Modi, Xi agree to maintain border peace, step up talks
Militaries advised to build trust, avoid Doklam- like flareup Discuss ways to boost economic ties, people- to- people relations
We discussed ways to give impetus to our economic ties as well as people-to-people relations. Also spoke about agriculture & tech — Narendra
Modi,
Prime Minister
China and India should be good neighbours... They should regard each other as an active factor in the change of world power.
— Xi Jinping,
Chinese Prez
Wuhan, April 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping issued “strategic guidance” to their militaries to strengthen communication to build trust and understanding, a move aimed at avoiding a Doklam- like situation in the future.
At the end of their twoday informal summit in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, Mr Modi and Mr Xi agreed to continue the dialogue at the highest levels between the political leadership of both sides despite the differences that exist at various levels.
Mr Modi said his talks with Mr Xi focussed on diverse areas of India-China cooperation. “We discussed ways to give impetus to our economic ties as well as people- to-people relations. Other areas we spoke about include agriculture, technology, energy and tourism,” Mr Modi said as he returned to New Delhi on Saturday evening.
The Congress, meanwhile, accused Mr Modi of compromising the country’s defence and strategic interests and asked whether he raised issues of national interest including Chinese military build- up in the Doklam sector during his visit.
“Is it okay that the Prime Minister, who came to power talking about showing red eyes, is compromising with the nation’s security somewhere?” asked Congress communication head Randeep Surjewala. During the informal summit, Mr Xi pointed out that China- India relations need to be stable and development based on mutual trust.
“China and India should be good neighbours and good friends. They should regard each other as an active factor in the change of world power,” Mr Xi said.
“We must deal with differences in a more mature manner; we must strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs and drive regional economic integration and interconnection,” the China leader said.
The two leaders also discussed climate change, sustainable development and food security and shared their experience in terms of the preservation of the Yangtze — China’s longest river — and the Ganga — India’s longest river.
At the end of the summit, Indian foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said that they underscored the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in all areas of the India-China border region.
“They issued strategic guidance to their respective militaries to strengthen communication in order to build trust and mutual understanding and enhance predictability and effectiveness in the management of border affairs,” he said.
His remarks assume significance as the “heart- toheart” informal summit between Mr Modi and Mr
Mamata Banerjee said, “Why can’t the government even take care of our historic Lal Qila? Red Fort is a symbol of our nation. It is where India’s flag is hoisted on Independence Day. Why should it be leased out? Sad and dark day in our history.”
CPI( M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, in a tweet, said, “Stop Privatising India’s Heritage: The Parliamentary Committee that went into the issue of handing over heritage sites to private corporates had decided against this unanimously. Govt should reverse its decision of privatising the Red Fort.” the criticism,
Reacting to minister of state for tourism K. J. Alphons said that under a scheme started last year, the ministry is looking at public participation to develop heritage monuments.
“The companies involved in these projects will only spend and not make money. They will create amenities such as toilets and provide drinking water for the tourists so that their footfalls increase. They might put up signs outside to say that they have developed the amenities. If they are spending money, there is nothing wrong in taking credit for it,” he said.
“I want to ask the Congress what they did for the past 70 years? All the monuments and facilities around them are in terrible shape. In some places, there are no facilities at all,” he said.
As of March this year, 31 prospective “monument mitras” have been shortlisted by an oversight and vision committee for developing tourist- friendly amenities at 95 monuments, heritage and other tourist sites including the Red Fort, Qutub Minar
( in Delhi), Hampi ( Karnataka), Sun Temple ( Odisha), Ajanta Caves ( Maharashtra), Char Minar ( Telangana) and Kaziranga National Park ( Assam).
At the Red Fort, the Dalmia Bharat group has agreed to provide drinking water kiosks, street furniture- like benches and signages to guide visitors, according to the ministry.
The corporate entity has also agreed to put up within a year tactile maps, upgrade toilets, light up the pathways and bollards, carry out restoration work and landscaping and build a 1,000square- foot visitor facility centre.
It will also provide a 3- D projection mapping of the fort’s interior and exterior, battery- operated vehicles and charging stations for such vehicles and a thematic cafeteria.
Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built the red sand stone fort, Qila- i- Mubarak, on the banks of Yamuna when he transferred the capital from Agra to Delhi. Architects Ustad Ahmad and Ustad Hamid oversaw the construction that began in 1638 and ended in 1648.
Spread over 256 acres, the fort is octagonal in shape and has two entrances — Lahori gate and Delhi gate. It stretches for 2 km by the Yamuna river. In 2007, the fort was declared a Unesco world heritage site.
The British destroyed most of the fort’s precious marble structures following the revolt of 1857 and started using it as a garrison. Since Independence till 2003, the Indian Army occupied a part of the fort. The Army was withdrawn after a terror attack in 2000.