NEW DELHI – India and China are mature nations and the neighbours know howto deal with differences before they devolve into disputes, Prime MinisterNarendra Modi told a Chinese delegation led by their Defence MinisterGeneral Wei Fenghe on Tuesday, government sources said.
Fenghe called upon PM Modi after he arrived in Delhi for a four-day Indiavisit that will include bilateral talks with his counterpart NirmalaSitharaman on Thursday.
“Terming India-China relations as a factor of stability in the world, thePrime Minister said that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in theborder areas is indicative of the sensitivity and maturity with which Indiaand China handle their differences, not allowing them to become disputes,”sources from Ministry of External Affairs said giving details of theinteraction.
The PM also appreciated the increased momentum of high-level contactsbetween India and China in all spheres, including defence and militaryexchanges, they added. Modi also recalled his recent meetings that havepaved the way for better ties after the 73-day standoff at Doklam last year.
The prolonged face-off was triggered after Indian troops stopped Chineseroad construction in Doklam – a region under dispute between China andBhutan. It was felt that road connectivity would give China direct accessto the Siliguri corridor, giving them strategic advantage and it had to bestopped since it violated the status quo agreed upon by the threecountries. The confrontation finally ended with diplomatic intervention.
Better communication between the militaries including a hotline facilitybetween military headquarters is high of both countries.
This will be the second meeting between the defence ministers this year.The earlier one had taken place in Beijing in April when Sitharaman visitedChina to take part in the defence ministers’ meeting of the ShanghaiCooperation Organisation (SCO).