China counsels patience on resolving the Sino-Indian border row

[third eye]

China on Sunday called for closer Sino-Indian ties as a stepping stone to settle the boundary issue, unveiling Beijing’s perspective of resolving the frontier row as an incremental time-consuming exercise.

Addressing a press conference during the on-going annual session of the National People’s Congress (NPC), Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi said that the two countries had so far managed to contain the dispute. “As for the India-China boundary question, it is the legacy of history. We have worked on it for many years and made some progress on the boundary negotiations. The dispute has been contained,” Mr. Wang said in response to a question.

However, the resolution of the boundary issue was an uphill task, requiring both sides to take measured, incremental steps. “At the moment the boundary negotiations are in the process of building up small, positive steps,” the foreign minister observed. He added: “It is like climbing a mountain. The going is tough, that is only because we are on the way up”.

With an early breakthrough not in sight, Mr. Wang advocated overall development of the China-India ties, as this would impart a positive momentum to the resolution of the border row. “This is one more reason why we should do more to strengthen China-India cooperation so that we can enable and facilitate the settlement of the diplomatic question.”

Diplomatic sources told The Hindu, despite the urgency of the resolution of the boundary issue, the Indian side is not allowing differences on the frontiers to impede the growing economic partnership between New Delhi and Beijing.

Mr. Wang said that Sino-Indian partnership was a strategic necessity to unveil the “Asian century”. “Deng Xiaoping once said that unless China and India are developed, there would be no Asian century,” he observed.

HMr. Wang stressed that a warm welcome awaits Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the Chinese government and people during his much anticipated visit to Beijing later this year.He said that the two countries needed to work together “for the revitalisation of two oriental civilizations and to bring prosperity to two emerging markets and enable co-existence of two large neighbours”

 

[third eye]

China says border dispute with India contained - Newspaper - DAWN.COM

BEIJING: China said on Sunday the border dispute with India had been “contained” and the two countries should “do more” to strengthen cooperation to facilitate its settlement.

Addressing his annual press conference on the sidelines of a meeting of the National People’s Congress, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said a warm welcome awaits Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he makes his first visit to China later this year.

“Last September, President Xi Jinping made a historic visit to India. Picture of the two leaders working at a spinning wheel in Gujarat, the home state of prime minister, has spread far and wide in China,” Mr Wang said in response to a question from PTI about the bilateral relations at a nationally-televised and crowded press conference.

Minister says a warm welcome awaits Indian prime minister
“Chinese people believe in reciprocating the courtesy of others. I am sure when Prime Minister Modi visits China later this year, he will be warmly welcomed by the Chinese government and people,” he said.

Terming the China-India boundary question a legacy of history, the minister said: “We have worked on it for many years and made some progress in the boundary negotiations.

“The dispute has been contained. At the moment, the boundary negotiations are in the process of building up small positive developments. It is like climbing a mountain and the going is tough because we are on the way up.

“This is all the more reason that we do more to strengthen China-India cooperation so that we can enable and facilitate the settlement of the boundary question,” he said.

Recalling the statement of one of China’s former top leaders, Deng Xiaoping, who said that unless India and China were developed there would be no Asian century, Mr Wang said: “China is prepared to work with India to implement important agreements reached by our leaders.

“Chinese dragon and Indian elephant should join in a duet to work for the early revitalisation of two ancient civilisations, common prosperity of the two emerging markets and amicable coexistence of two large neighbours,” he said.

Mr Modi is expected to visit China before May 6, around the time when his government completes one year in office.

By arrangement with the Times of India

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2015