Will work with India to enhance trust: China

nBEIJING: China is ready to work with India to enhance mutual trust and properly manage differences, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday, adding that the “right path” ahead for the two sides is to respect each other.

The foreign ministry was reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech, wherein he talked of strengthening the Indian armed forces and said the country’s territorial integrity was supreme.

Modi had referred to the June 15 clash between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) without naming China and said “whoever tried to threaten the sovereignty of our country right from the LOC {Line of Control with Pakistan} to the LAC, ...our brave soldiers have given a befitting reply”.

Asked to comment on Modi’s speech, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said: “We have noted Prime Minister Modi’s speech. We are close neighbours, we are all emerging countries with over one billion people.

“So the sound development of bilateral ties not only serves the interest of the two peoples but also stability, peace, prosperity of the region and the whole world. The right path for the two sides is to respect and support each other as this serves our long-term interests.” He added, “So, China stands ready to work with India to enhance our political mutual trust, properly manage our differences, step up practical cooperation and safeguard the long-term development of bilateral ties.”