LET’S COOPERATE, NOT CONFRONT EACH OTHER, SAYS CHINESE ENVOY
NEW DELHI: India and China should cooperate, not confront each other, and resolve differences over the border dispute through consultation and dialogue, the Chinese ambassador to New Delhi Sun Weidong has said. Sun called the dispute a legacy of history and added the boundary question should be kept in the “right place” in the bilateral ties between the two countries.
“It is normal for countries to have differences. Border disputes are a legacy of history and should be placed in the right place in bilateral relations,” Sun said. He added that Beijing believes in resolving border disputes through dialogue and consultation.
“At the same time, our determination to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests is unwavering. China and India should respect each other, treat each other equally, engage in dialogue and consultation, and properly resolve their differences to find a solution acceptable to both sides,” Sun said during an online interaction with Indian youth leaders on Tuesday.
Sun added that China and India should concentrate on dealing with the pandemic and reviving the economy. His comments came in the backdrop of the ongoing border friction along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
India has said in recent months that complete disengagement at all friction points on the LAC and peace and tranquillity in the border areas alone can lead to normalisation of ties in other spheres such as trade and investment.