China has issued a statement on Thursday regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comments that relations with China are crucial for India and an immediate resolution to the border dispute is necessary. China has advocated for strong and stable relations between the two nations in response to PM Modi's statement.
Prime Minister Modi recently granted an interview to the American magazine Newsweek, where he expressed confidence that India could not be stopped in its track of progress. In the same interview, Modi expressed hope that through positive bilateral diplomatic and military dialogues, India and China would be able to restore peace at their borders.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded to PM Modi's commentary, stating in a media briefing on Thursday, 'China has noted the Prime Minister's remarks. We believe that robust and stable Sino-Indian relations are beneficial for both sides' shared interests. It is righteous for peace and development in the region and beyond.'
She further stated, 'The relationship between India and China is not limited to the border issue alone. It should be placed properly within the overall bilateral relations and be resolved accordingly.'
Mao Ning mentioned that both parties are in close contact through diplomatic and military channels. She said, 'We hope that India will work with China towards the same direction, elevate the bilateral relations to strategic heights, increase mutual trust, persist in dialogue and cooperation, properly handle the differences, and strengthen and stabilize bilateral relations.'
What had PM Modi stated?
PM Modi's interview is among the recent high-profile American magazine features.
During the interview, on the topic of border disputes with China, Modi stated, 'It is my belief that we urgently need to address the long-standing situation at our borders so that we can avoid the troubles affecting our bilateral dialogues. Stable and peaceful relations between India and China are not just vital for both nations but also for the entire region.'
Indo-China Border Standoff Persists Since 2020
The border tension between India and China has been ongoing since May 5, 2020, when violent clashes occurred in the Pangong Tso Lake area of Eastern Ladakh involving Indian and Chinese soldiers. This has led to a significant stalemate in the relations between the two countries.
However, the stalemate has not significantly affected the trade relations. To date, both sides have conducted 21 rounds of talks at the Corps Commander level to resolve the deadlock.
According to the Chinese military, both sides have agreed to withdraw from four points: Galwan Valley, Pangong Lake, Hot Springs, and Gogra (Gogora Heights).
India continues to pressure the People's Liberation Army (PLA, Chinese Military) to withdraw from the Depsang and Demchok areas. India has maintained that until the situation at the border normalizes, the bilateral relations with China cannot return to normal.
