India, China Presidents hold talks in Beijing
May 27, 2016, 4:58 am

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) holds a welcoming ceremony for Indian President Pranab Mukherjee before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 26, 2016 [Xinhua]

Welcoming Mukherjee, Xi said, “You are a seasoned statesman and old friend of the Chinese people who has long been committed to promote friendship between China and India.”

State news agency Xinhua quoted Xi as saying that the “Chinese side is appreciative of India’s adherence to the one-China policy”.

Indian media reports on Tuesday said two Indian members of parliament scheduled to attend the swearing-in of Taiwan’s new President Tsai Ing-wen cancelled their participation, a move that could be interpreted as deference to China’s sensitive relations with Taiwan.

In her inaugural address on Friday, Taiwan’s new President chose to omit the mention of the “one-China” principle that affirms both sides are part of one country.

India’s growing ties with China have been marked by burgeoning trade and investment.

“When I visited India in 2014, I was warmly received by your excellency and the Indian government. During that visit we had sincere and candid discussions on China-India relations and issues of mutual interest and we reached lot of common understandings,” Xi, who is also the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China, said.

“I am sure your current visit will hopefully strengthen the momentum of high-level exchanges between China and India and hope to take forward our overall relations and friendly cooperation in various fields,” he added.

Xi said India and China must tap the potential for practical cooperation on railways, industrial park, smart city, new energy, environmental protection, information technology, human resources, industrial capacity, investment, tourism and services.

The Chinese president looked forward to closer cultural and people-to-people exchanges as well as law-enforcement and security cooperation between the two countries.

“The two sides should appropriately address our differences,” Xi told Mukherjee.

Ahead of Mukherjee’s visit, China’s Foreign Ministry said Beijing is keen on accelerating talks aimed at resolving the historical border dispute.

“India and China are two large growing economies and major powers on the world stage. We represent over 40 per cent of humanity. Our relations transcend the bilateral ambit and have acquired regional and global and strategic significance,” Mukherjee said on the third day of his four-day state visit.

Official relations between the world’s two fastest growing economies have come a long way since the two fought a brief border war in 1962.

India is hosting the 8th BRICS Summit in October while China will host the G20 Summit later this year.

Xi suggested China and India support each other in regional and international affairs and work together to make successes of this year’s G20 summit and BRICS summit.

“We are both committed to making the international political and economic order more fair and reasonable. It can be said our dreams are shared and our interests well aligned,” Xi said.

Xi also called for India’s support to the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar economic corridor,the newly launched Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and conclude the negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership at an early date.

Official Chinese media commentary praised the Indian President’s visit, saying “some Western media have attempted to drive a wedge into China-India relations by hyping up competition between the two Asian giants”.

“The common interests and interdependence between China and India are deep and close, and robust enough to withstand the onslaught of those ill-intentioned Western media,” said a Xinhua editorial earlier on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Mukherjee also met with China’s premier Li Keqiang and top legislator Zhang Dejiang.

During his meeting with the Indian president, Li suggested the two sides align China’s “Made in China 2025” campaign and “Internet Plus” initiative with India’s “Make in India” initiative and “Digital India” campaign.

The cooperation and development of China and India will not only benefit one-third of the global population, but also help global economic recovery and growth, said the premier.

TBP and Agencies

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