A senior Chinese official said Monday that China and India should adhere to the “correct strategic perception” that they are not competitors, but cooperative partners and opportunities for each other’s development, rather than threats.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks during a press conference here in response to a question on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comments on Sino-Indian relations and Moscow’s efforts to maintain close ties with both during an interaction with heads of leading global news agencies, including ANI, on Thursday.
Lin said that the situation on the border between China and India is currently generally stable, and the two sides enjoy a smooth communication channel.
He added that China and India should adhere to the perception that the two countries are cooperative partners, not competitors and rivals, and that both countries represent opportunities for each other’s development, not threats.
“The two sides need to look at and handle bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, enhance mutual trust and expand cooperation, appropriately deal with differences, and promote the sound and steady development of China-India relations,” he said.
Regarding India’s concerns about China’s close relations with Pakistan, Lin said that Beijing supports both India and Pakistan in properly handling their differences through dialogue and consultation, and jointly maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Commenting on the relations between India, China and Russia, Lin said that the three countries are emerging economies, and maintaining healthy relations not only serves the interests of the three countries, but also serves peace, security and stability in the world.
He added that China is ready to maintain contacts with Russia and India on enhancing trilateral cooperation.
In his wide-ranging interaction with heads of major global news agencies, including PTI, Putin praised both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and said Russia’s decades-old partnerships with both New Delhi and Beijing have grown organically and are completely independent of each other.
“This is a sensitive and multifaceted relationship between India and China, and interfering in it is not a good idea. Of course, we are interacting with our friends – India and China,” Putin said in response to a question from PTI CEO and Editor-in-Chief Vijay Joshi.
“President Xi and Prime Minister Modi are trying to resolve all issues of common concern, including the border issue,” Putin said.
Highlighting Moscow’s strategic balance in Asia, Putin described Russia’s relations with India and China as having developed organically.
He stressed that Moscow’s increasing synergy with New Delhi does not come at the expense of Beijing, just as Russia’s deep alliance with China does not harm its relations with India.
