China on Monday welcomed the recent comments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on India-China relations, emphasizing that the recent progress in enforcing the major consensus between the two countries' leaders in Kazan last year.
In an interview with US-based host Lex Fridman on a podcast released on Sunday, PM Modi asserted the need for differences not to become conflicts and reaffirmed that dialogue is the core of India's diplomatic policy.
He reaffirmed that understanding between India and China is needed for the world to be stable and prosperous, and that such a relationship needs to be established on the lines of constructive competition and not conflict.
"Dialogue is the foundation of a stable and cooperative relationship in the interest of both countries," PM Modi said.
Reacting to his words, China's Foreign Ministry, in a statement by spokesperson Mao Ning, noted the optimistic tone initiated by PM Modi and re-emphasized the strategic directions laid out by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi at their Kazan meeting in October.
"We appreciate Prime Minister Modi’s recent positive remarks on China-India relations. In October, President Xi and Prime Minister Modi met in Kazan and provided strategic direction for improving bilateral ties. Since then, both sides have worked earnestly to implement the leaders’ consensus, strengthening exchanges and cooperation across various levels, yielding a series of positive outcomes," Mao Ning said during a media briefing in Beijing.
The spokesperson also remarked on the rich historical connections of India and China, dating more than 2,000 years back, and pointed out that friendly exchanges and mutual learning have been the bases of their traditional relationship, immensely contributing to civilization and human progress worldwide.
"Both India and China, as the world's two largest developing countries, have a common aspiration of national development and rejuvenation. The two nations should make efforts to study, understand, support, and help each other. It will be beneficial for more than 2.8 billion people, meet the expectations of the region, enhance the growth momentum of the Global South, and facilitate world peace, stability, and prosperity," she continued.
Reiterating Beijing's position, Mao Ning underscored that China views India as a friend in mutual prosperity. She pointed out that the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries is a chance to enhance exchanges and cooperation in all areas.
"China is ready to cooperate with India to fully implement the leaders' consensus, utilize this milestone anniversary to deepen cooperation at all levels, and promote China-India relations onto a healthy and stable track," she said.
In his interaction, PM Modi recognized the natural divergence between neighboring countries but emphasized the need to ensure that they do not become disputes. Referring to the border tensions of 2020, he mentioned that his recent meeting with President Xi had helped usher in a return to normalcy on the border. Work is in progress to get back to pre-2020 levels, and he was optimistic that mutual trust, enthusiasm, and energy would be restored over time.
PM Modi also stressed that collaborative behavior between China and India is important for global peace, instead promoting constructive behavior rather than competition.
