China, India meet in informal summit
WUHAN, China: The leaders of China and India agreed to open a new chapter in their relationship on Saturday after an informal summit, just months after a dispute over a stretch of their highaltitude 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 icebreaking trip both hoped would allow candour and nurture trust.
In what was billed as an informal gettogether rather than a summit, the two men held talks on Friday that lasted far longer than expected, and on Saturday chatted over tea on a boat trip on 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 3500km 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 last Tuesday its opposition to the grand trade and transport plan because one of its branches runs through Pakistaniadministered Kashmir, which India claims.
Xi and Modi agreed their problems would be resolved with time.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said both leaders had agreed they could handle their differences peacefully. — Reuters