Chinese FM Wang Urges India and China to Implement Modi-Xi Consensus to Improve Relations

Beijing: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that India and China should implement the important consensus reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping during their summit in Russia. He made the remarks in his meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the G20 meeting in Rio De Janeiro.

Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party, stated that the successful meeting between Xi and Modi at last month’s BRICS summit in Kazan, along with the restart of China-India relations, aligns with the fundamental interests of both nations, the expectations of Global South countries, and the right direction of history.

According to a report by state-run Xinhua news agency, the two sides should act on the important consensus reached by the leaders, respect each other’s core interests, build mutual trust through dialogue, address differences with sincerity, and work to restore stable and sound development in their bilateral relationship as soon as possible. The statement follows the Wang-Jaishankar meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio De Janeiro on Monday.

During their meeting in Kazan, Modi and Xi endorsed the India-China agreement on patrolling and disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. They also directed the revival of several bilateral dialogue mechanisms, signaling efforts to normalize ties that were strained by the deadly military clash in 2020.

Positive Possibilities 

Wang said the two sides should send more positive signals and engage in actions that facilitate bilateral exchanges, enhance mutual trust and reduce suspicion, and carry out more cooperation and reduce attrition.

The two sides should strive to make practical progress in such issues as resuming direct flights, exchanging journalists and easing visa procedures as soon as possible, Wang said.

Noting that next year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and India, Wang said the two sides should plan commemorative activities, and encourage exchanges and visits in various fields and at different levels to enhance understanding and mutual trust.

China and India, as two neighbouring major developing countries, have more common interests than differences, and they should view each other's development as an opportunity and work together to achieve common development and rejuvenation, which will help safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and contribute to global multipolarity, he said.

Both China and India adhere to a non-aligned foreign policy and multilateralism, and support the democratisation of international relations, Wang said, adding that the two countries should continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation in international affairs and further develop mechanisms such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

(with agency inputs)