India and China should not let differences overshadow bilateral ties: Chinese envoy
US Prez Trump offers to 'mediate or arbitrate' between two Asian giants over border standoff
NEW DELHI: Amid an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation between Indian and Chinese armies in several sensitive areas along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong on Wednesday said that the two countries should never let their differences shadow the overall bilateral ties and must enhance mutual trust.
Without referring to the military standoff, Sun said both sides should resolve their differences through communication and adhere to the basic premise that they pose no threat to each other.
"We should correctly view our differences and never let them shadow the overall situation of bilateral cooperation. At the same time, we should gradually seek understanding through communication and constantly resolve differences," Sun said.
"We should adhere to the basic judgment that China and India are each other's opportunities and pose no threat to each other. We need to see each other's development in a correct way and enhance strategic mutual trust," he said.
The Chinese Ambassador's comments came amid aggressive posturing by both Chinese and Indians troops in several areas in eastern Ladakh including Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie.
Both sides have been increasing strength of their troops as well as weaponry in these areas as well as in several other disputed regions in north Sikkim and Uttarakhand after a violent face off between the two armies in Pangong Tso on May 5 and 6.
According to military experts, the current standoff is the biggest one between the two armies after their 72-day long faceoff in Doklam in Sikkim sector in 2017 that had triggered fears of a war between the two-nuclear-armed neighbours.
“China and India should be good neighbors of harmonious coexistence and good partners to move forward hand in hand. The realisation of ‘Dragon and Elephant dancing together' is the only right choice for China and India, which serves the fundamental interests of our two countries and two peoples,” he added.
Meanwhile, in a surprise move, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday offered to "mediate or arbitrate" the raging border dispute, saying he was "ready, willing and able" to ease the tensions.
"We have informed both India and China that the United States is ready, willing and able to mediate or arbitrate their now raging border dispute. Thank you!" Trump said in a predawn tweet.