India, China to focus on culture, mutual learning
Joint statement focuses more on people-to-people aspects of the ties
Calling for a long-term plan to develop India-China relations, Chinese President Xi Jinping, who had lengthy meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Chennai, said bilateral differences should not be allowed to “dilute” the cooperation and the dance of the dragon and the elephant is the only “correct choice” for both sides.
A lengthy report by the staterun Xinhua news agency on Saturday on the two days of talks between Modi and Xi at Mamallapuram said the two leaders had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on China-India relations.
“We should carefully handle issues concerning each other’s core interests. We should properly manage and control problems that cannot be solved for the time being,” the president said.
The two leaders also discussed major international and regional issues of common interest, the report said. Xi pointed out that since his successful meeting with Modi in Wuhan last year, ChinaIndia relations have entered a new stage of sound and stable development, and the positive effects of the meeting are constantly emerging.
The Chinese president, who had several hours of talks with Modi during their second informal summit on Friday and Saturday, proposed a six-point formula for the continuous development of ties without letting the differences disrupting the relations, the report said. “First, we should take a correct view of each other’s development and enhance strategic mutual trust,” Xinhua quoted Xi as saying in the detailed report filed on the talks.
After the two-day talks, which mostly confined to the conversations between the two leaders in a relaxed manner followed by delegation level talks in the end, Xi said “no matter from any point of view, China and India should be good neighbours and good partners who live in harmony and move forward hand in hand”. “Dragon and the elephant dance is the only correct choice for China and India, which is in the fundamental interests of both countries and their people,” he said, without specifying differences between the two countries.
“Differences between the two countries should be viewed in a correct way. We should not let them dilute the overall interests of bilateral cooperation. At the same time, we should seek understanding through communication and constantly resolve differences,” Xi said.
He suggested that both countries should carry out strategic communication in a timely and effective manner, enhance mutual understanding and cooperation, and firmly grasp the general direction of the development of bilateral relations. “Focus on friendship and cooperation, resolve suspicions and doubts, and properly handle differences and sensitive issues,” he was quoted as saying.
Stating that the next few years would be critical for the two countries, Xi said, “The two countries should and certainly can embark on a bright road of friendly cooperation”.
On the border dispute along the 3,488 km long Line of Actual Control (LAC), Xi said “in accordance with the agreement on political guiding principles, we will seek a fair and reasonable solution to the border issue that is acceptable to both sides”.
“We should carefully handle issues concerning each other’s core interests. We should properly manage and control problems that cannot be solved for the time being,” he said.
Xi also suggested that both the countries should improve the level of military security exchanges and cooperation. “We should promote the development of military-to-military relations in the right direction of enhancing trust, clearing up misgivings and friendly cooperation.”
Earlier, an official statement from Beijing said early on Saturday India and China have agreed to “promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. “Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed on Friday to promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations to achieve joint development and prosperity,” a statement released by Xinhua said.
The statement, which focussed more on the people-to-people and cultural aspects of the bilateral ties, was widely carried across Chinese media on Saturday morning.
“Xi recalled his successful meeting with Modi in Wuhan last year, which brought China-India relations into a new stage, and said that he is delighted to come to Tamil Nadu in southern India to further learn about the country,” the statement said.
“The two countries’ ancestors have overcome various obstacles to carry out extensive exchanges and promote the development of literature, art, philosophy and religion, which have greatly benefited both sides,” the news agency quoted Xi as saying.