China, India should work closely for development, Xi tells Modi in Astana
MODI SAID STEADY DEVELOPMENT OF THE RELATIONSHIP WOULD BE CONDUCIVE TO PEACE AND STABILITY OF THE WHOLE WORLD
China and India should work together to address sensitive issues and help each other in meeting development goals, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.
In his first meeting with the Chinese leader in eight months, Modi told Xi the two countries needed to “properly deal” with sensitive issues.
“China and India are two major countries and should focus on more cooperation alongside providing assistance to each other on development goals,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying quoted Xi as saying. The two leaders met in Astana, Kazakhstan, on the sidelines on the Shanghai Corporation Organisation summit.
Last eight months have tested ties between the countries.
China has repeatedly blocked New Delhi’s efforts to get Jaish chief Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist.
It has also thwarted India’s bid to join Nuclear Suppliers Group even as it overlooked New Delhi’s objections to press ahead with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CEPC) that runs through Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK). Xi also said China and India should increase trade and investment cooperation to ensure they enjoyed more “early stage profits” from projects in infrastructure and industry.
He also made a case for the Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar corridor that is part of his ambitious One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative that aims to build a new Silk Route.
“The two sides should strengthen the complementarities of the development strategies and press ahead with the major cooperation projects such as energy and railways,” Hua quoted the President as saying.
The world was undergoing a change. China and India should step up cooperation and also assist each other on developmental goals, Xi told Modi. Modi said the two countries enjoyed friendship and steady development of bilateral relationship would be conducive to peace and stability of the whole world, Hua said.