India and China held the first round of talks since the installation of the Modi-led NDA government in New Delhi, which focused on firming up the roadmap for intensified interaction between the two Asian giants in the months ahead.
India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held wide-ranging talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Delhi June 8 that saw the two sides discuss a cluster of bilateral, regional and global issues.
Ahead of the talks, Mr Wang underlined that India and China have “more strategic consensus than differences” and voiced hope that under the new leadership in Delhi, the two sides could find a solution to the long-standing boundary question.
‘China stands by India’s side’
In an interview to the Hindu, an Indian daily, Mr Wang said he was personally asked by President Xi Jinping to visit Delhi to establish contacts with the new leadership.
“My trip brings a most important message to the people of India — China stands by your side throughout your efforts of reform and development,” he said. “It is a trip to convey messages and to get to know more friends.” Alluding to the decades-long boundary question that lie at the heart of off-and-on tensions between the two Asian powers, the Chinese minister said while it was “unavoidable that between neighbours, there might be certain issues left from history or some differences in immediate interests”, both countries “have much more strategic consensus than differences”.
“No country can choose its neighbour, but friendship may be fostered. Certain issues may not be avoided, but innovative answers could be found. One can’t rewrite history, but the future is in our hands.”
The talks between the foreign ministers, among other things, are expected to firm up dates for a state visit by the Chinese president to India later this year.
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