'Sound & stable ties serve common interests': China on PM Modi's border row comments

PM Narendra Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping (PTI file photo)

The Chinese foreign ministry on Thursday said 'sound and stable ties' serve the common interests of both China and India.

"We believe that sound and stable China, India relations serve the common interests of both sides and are conducive to peace and development of the region and beyond," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said. The statement comes in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that for New Delhi, ties with Beijing are important and the prolonged situation at the borders should be addressed urgently.

In a 90-minute interview with Newsweek, PM Modi spoke about a host of crucial issues including the India-China dispute. Expressing hope that through constructive bilateral engagement at the diplomatic and military levels, both nations will be able to restore and sustain peace at their borders, he said that for India, the relationship with China is important and significant.

"It is my belief that we need to urgently address the prolonged situation on our borders so that the abnormality in our bilateral interactions can be put behind us. Stable and peaceful relations between India and China are important for not just our two countries but the entire region and world," PM Modi said.

Mao said the boundary question 'does not represent the entirety of the India-China relations'. "It should be placed appropriately in the bilateral relations and managed properly. The two sides are in close communication through diplomatic and military channels, she said.

"We hope India will work in the same direction with China, handle the bilateral relations from the strategic heights and long-term perspective, enhance mutual trust, stick to dialogue and cooperation, handle differences properly and put the bilateral relations forward on sound and stable track," the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson added.

India and China ties turned sour ever since the eastern Ladakh border standoff following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash in the Pangong Tso Lake area. The two sides have so far held 21 rounds of corps commander-level talks to resolve the standoff.

India has been pressing the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to disengage from the Depsang and Demchok areas, maintaining that there cannot be restoration of normalcy in its relations with China as long as the state of the borders remains abnormal.