China’s Xi, India’s Modi seek new relationship after summit
WUHAN, China, (Reuters) - The leaders of China and India agreed to open a new chapter in their relationship yesterday after an informal summit, just months after a dispute over a stretch of their high-altitude Himalayan border rekindled fears of war.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent around 24 hours in the central Chinese city of Wuhan for meetings with President Xi Jinping, an ice-breaking trip both hoped would allow candour and nurture trust.
Billed as an informal get-together rather than a summit, the two men held talks on Friday that lasted far longer than expected, and yesterday chatted over tea on a boat trip round a scenic lake.
“President Xi stressed that the issues between China and India are of a limited, temporary nature but the relationship between the two countries is extensive and ongoing,” Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou told reporters in Wuhan.
Their differences are significant: as well as disputes over stretches of a 3,500 km (2,200 miles) border - the two fought a brief border war in 1962 - the Asian giants have squabbled over Xi’s signature Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.
India signalled as recently as Tuesday its opposition to the grand trade and transport plan because one of its branches runs through Pakistani-administered Kashmir, which India claims.