Is China's Foreign Minister 'heartened' by the stability in borders?

New Delhi, Aug 19 (NationPress) The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed that he is “heartened” by the recent stabilization of ties between India and China as well as the peaceful conditions along their borders. He emphasized the significance Beijing places on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's imminent visit to China for the SCO Summit.

During a session at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, which was part of the recent Special Representatives (SR) dialogue concerning border issues with NSA Ajit Doval, Wang Yi noted that the challenges faced in India-China relations over the past years were “not in the interest of the people of both countries”.

“I am delighted to engage in discussions with you once again in New Delhi regarding the boundary issue. The difficulties we encountered in recent years did not serve the interests of our nations. Following the crucial meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi in Kazan last October, we now have a clear path forward for enhancing our bilateral relations and addressing boundary matters,” stated Wang Yi in his opening remarks, which were delivered in Mandarin and translated into English.

Wang Yi reflected positively on the previous SR-level discussions, expressing optimism about the progress achieved.

“We had a productive 23rd round of talks late last year, where we reached a significant consensus on managing differences, stabilizing borders, and working toward resolution. We are encouraged by the regained stability,” he remarked.

Praising NSA Doval's contributions as India’s Special Representative, the Chinese Foreign Minister stated that the relationship is currently at “a pivotal opportunity for enhancement and growth”.

He further noted that Prime Minister Modi's visit next month is expected to bolster the success of the upcoming SCO Summit in Tianjin.

“We in China regard the Prime Minister’s visit as highly significant as he attends the SCO summit at our invitation. We believe that India will also contribute to a fruitful summit in Tianjin. History and current realities reaffirm that a robust and stable China-India relationship fundamentally benefits both nations and aligns with the aspirations of developing countries,” Wang Yi asserted.

He called for enhanced bilateral collaboration, urging both nations to “adhere to the strategic vision of our leaders, augment mutual trust through dialogue, broaden shared interests through cooperation, and effectively resolve border issues.”

Wang Yi concluded by stating that China is prepared to collaborate with India to “forge greater consensus and define the specific objectives for upcoming boundary consultations, thereby creating favorable conditions for the advancement and strengthening of our bilateral relations.”