Know How Friendship With Xi Jinping Helps Resolve India-China Ties
PM Narendra Modi highlighted India’s ties with China, acknowledging that discords were natural when two neighbours exist. PM Modi expressed optimism that the “trust, enthusiasm and energy” in bilateral ties with China would slowly return as there was a “five-year gap” due to border tensions. Ties between the Asian giants soured after a four-year-long military standoff, which began after Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a violent confrontation in Galwan Valley in May 2020. On October 21 last year, India announced it had reached an agreement with China on patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, a major breakthrough in ending the standoff.
In 2020, the incidents along the border created significant tensions between our countries. However, after my recent meeting with President Xi, we have seen a return to normalcy at the border. We are now working to restore conditions to how they were before 2020. PM Modi met Xi on the sidelines of the Brics summit in Russia’s Kazan, the first such meeting in five years following the standoff. Both leaders endorsed the India-China agreement on patrolling and disengagement along the LACin eastern Ladakh and issued directions to revive various bilateral dialogue mechanisms.
PM Modi, who is speaking in his second podcast since being elected in 2014, said that occasional disagreements were bound to happen, even in a family. He also said that India was actively working forward to ensure that differences did not turn into disputes. Differences are natural when two neighbouring countries exist. Not everything is perfect. Instead of discord, we emphasise dialogue because only through dialogue can we build a stable and cooperative relationship that serves the best interests of both nations
He said It is true that there have been ongoing border disputes between us. Slowly but surely, trust, enthusiasm, and energy will return. But of course, it will take some time, since there’s been a five-year gap. Asserting that there was no “real history of conflicts” between India and China, PM Modi said that the bilateral ties have been extremely strong with deep cultural connections. For centuries, India and China have learnt from each other and understood one another. Together they have always contributed to global good in some way. Old records suggest that at one point, India and China alone accounted for 50 per cent of GDP. That’s how massive India’s contribution was,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that he wanted to see India and China competing in a “healthy and natural way”, but it should never turn into a conflict. He said Our cooperation isn’t just beneficial. It’s also essential for global stability and prosperity. Since the 21st century is Asia’s century, we want India and China to compete in a healthy and natural way.