Modi-Xi informal summit: Chinese envoy hints at a new consensus

MAHABALIPURAM: Ahead of the second informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, China has raised hopes, with its envoy saying that a new set of consensus, including guiding principles on direction of bilateral ties, can be expected after the October 11-12 summit.

Underlining that China and India are not threat to each other, thereby negating the narrative of rivalry between the two Asian powers, Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong said: “We believe the summit will take bilateral ties to a higher level and have a major and positive impact on regional and world peace and stability.”

In an interview with PTI ahead of the Modi-Xi summit, the envoy said: “Greater cooperation between India and China will advance process of world multi-polarisation and economic globalization.”

Outlining the global nature of India-China partnership, the envoy said: “China and India have a responsibility to inject positive energy into a “complicated world” when protectionism and unilateralism are rising.”

“The two countries pose no threat but offer development opportunities to each other. The cooperation between China and India will not only contribute to each other’s development, but also advance the process of world multi-polarisation and economic globalization and safeguard the common interests of developing countries,” Sun said.

President Xi will touch down in Chennai, the capital of the southern state of Tamil Nadu, on October 11 afternoon for a nearly 24-hour visit that is set to chart out a new path for this complex relationship amid some recent strains in bilateral ties over the Kashmir issue.

“The overarching thrust of the second informal summit will be on keeping this complex but mutually empowering relationship on an even keel,” Manish Chand, Editor-in-Chief of India and the World magazine and India Writes Network, said in an interview to the Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV.

“The fact that this summit is taking place amid clashing exacerbating differences over the Kashmir issue underlines the importance the two rising Asian powers attach to this crucial partnership,” he said.

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