New Delhi, August 25
India and China had a different opinion about the discussion between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in Johannesburg a few days ago. China tried to reduce the importance of the conflict in the eastern Ladakh border by saying that it does not define the entire relationship between the two countries.
In a summary of the conversation between the two leaders, the Chinese foreign ministry said that President Xi Jinping told PM Modi that both sides should consider the bigger picture and handle the border issue correctly.
A few hours after China said that the conversation between Modi and Xi happened because India asked for it, sources from India said that China had asked for a meeting before, but India did not agree to it.
One of the sources said that the two leaders had a casual talk in the leaders’ lounge during the BRICS summit.
Modi and Xi talked to each other on Wednesday during the BRICS summit in Johannesburg. There are still tensions between India and China because of the dispute over the border in eastern Ladakh.
The conversation was not a well-organized meeting where both sides were involved. India has been saying that the two countries cannot have good relations unless there is peace at the border. However, China believes that the border issue should not affect their overall relationship.
“The Chinese statement said that President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a conversation on August 23 during the BRICS summit, at the request of the Indian Prime Minister. ”
It said the two leaders had an open and detailed discussion about the current relationship between China and India and other topics they both find important.
President Xi emphasized that enhancing the relationship between China and India is good for both countries and their people. It also promotes peace, stability, and development globally and in the region.
“The two parties should consider the overall benefits of their relationship and manage the boundary issue well, in order to protect peace and calmness in the border regions. ”
India’s top diplomat, Vinay Kwatra, said that Prime Minister Modi discussed India’s worries about the unresolved problems along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh during a conversation with President Xi. Kwatra emphasized the importance of peace and calm in the border regions for improving India-China relations.
Kwatra said the two leaders also agreed to tell their officials to work harder at “quickly stopping and reducing tensions”. However, the Chinese report did not mention this.
“The foreign secretary said that it is important to keep peace and calm in the border areas and to follow and respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) for India and China to have a better relationship,” stated by the foreign secretary during a media briefing on Thursday.
Chinese spokesperson Wang Wenbin, when asked about Modi and Xi agreeing to reduce tensions, said in Beijing that the border issue is a historical matter and doesn’t define all of China-India relations. The spokesperson emphasized the need to handle it properly and find a fair and peaceful solution through friendly discussions.
The official said that both sides need to work together to keep peace and calm in the border areas until the boundary question is resolved.
Wang said China wants to work together with India. They want to follow the important things that both leaders agreed on. They want to trust each other and focus on the things they agree on. They want to get rid of problems and make the relationship between the two countries stronger and more stable.
This was the first time Modi and Xi met in public since they briefly talked at the G20 Summit in Bali last year.
The two leaders saw each other quickly at a dinner hosted by President Joko Widodo of Indonesia on November 16.
The relationship between India and China became very tense after a dispute started at their border in eastern Ladakh in May 2020.
The Indian and Chinese soldiers have been fighting for over three years in some parts of eastern Ladakh. Despite talks between the two countries, they have only withdrawn from a few areas.
India has consistently said that peace and calmness along the LAC are important for improving overall relations. You need to rewrite the text in simple words.
India, China offer different views on Modi-Xi conversation in Johannesburg
