BEIJING – China always values the good neighbourliness and friendship withIndia, but it is also firm on upholding its “sovereign rights”, interestsand territorial integrity, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said today.Beijing handled the Dokalam standoff with “restraint”, showing the“emphasis” it places on ties with New Delhi, he said.
Touching on China’s relations with major countries and its diplomaticinitiatives last year, Yi, in a lengthy article in the ChineseInternational Studies journal, dwelt about Sino-India ties, stating thatBeijing’s diplomatic engagement with New Delhi resulted in Indiawithdrawing its troops and equipment from Dokalam.
The journal is published by China Institute of International Studies, athink-tank attached to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. The 73-day standoff atDokalam over which Bhutan also has counter claims began in June last yearwhen Indian troops objected to Chinese army building a road close toIndia’s Chicken-Neck Corridor, a narrow corridor connecting north-easternstates.
The standoff ended on August 28 after Chinese troops agreed to stopbuilding the road following which both the sides agreed on the “expeditiousdisengagement” of personnel at Dokalam, according to the External AffairsMinistry. Yi said China always values the good neighbourliness andfriendship with India as “we are each other’s big neighbours and ancientcivilisations”.
In the meantime, China is also firm in upholding its sovereign rights andinterests and territorial integrity, he said. “We handled the Indian bordertroops trespass into China’s Dong Long (Dokalam) area in our nationalinterest, on just grounds and with restraint. Through diplomatic means, weengaged with the Indian side and it withdrew its equipment and personnel.
“This demonstrates not only the value and emphasis we put on relations withIndia but also our sincerity and sense of responsibility in maintainingregional peace and stability,” the foreign minister said.
“We believe as we continue to engage in in-depth strategic communicationand promptly dispel strategic misgivings, the strategic value ofChina-India cooperation will speak for itself and there will be a prospectof ‘the Dragon and Elephant dancing together’ and 1+1=11 effect as expectedby the leaders,” Yi said.
On Chinese diplomacy in general, he said China will continue to break newground in pursuing major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics inthe new era. “We will take a longer and broader perspective, and be evenmore open-minded and resourceful in our diplomacy. We will give moreconsideration to the overall interests of the world and humanity, and workin a proactive manner,” he said.
China will firmly uphold the existing international system with the UN atthe core, and protect and expand the legitimate rights and interests ofdeveloping countries, he said. “We will continue to act as a responsiblemajor country to contribute to world peace, promote global development, anduphold the international order,” Yi added.