Vientiane, Laos — In a significant move toward enhancing bilateral relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar agreed to properly handle differences and foster mutually beneficial cooperation during their meeting on Thursday.
Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, emphasized that as two major developing countries and emerging economies sharing borders, China and India should strengthen dialogue and communication. He highlighted the importance of enhancing mutual understanding and trust to navigate the complex international landscape and address severe global challenges.
“We should work towards improving and steadily developing China-India relations with a sense of overcoming differences and frictions,” Wang Yi stated. “Our relationship holds significant influence beyond the bilateral scope.”
He underscored that improving relations should mirror the strategic stature of both nations as major emerging economies. “The political wisdom of China and India as ancient civilizations should be reflected in handling our differences,” he added. Wang Yi expressed hope that both sides would actively explore a proper way to coexist and guide all sectors toward a positive perception of each other.
Echoing these sentiments, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar noted that maintaining stable and predictable development of relations aligns fully with the interests of both countries. “India and China, being the two most populous countries with intertwined interests, have a special responsibility to safeguard regional peace and promote multipolarity,” he said.
Jaishankar acknowledged the challenges posed by the border situation but expressed India’s willingness to resolve differences with a historical perspective, strategic thinking, and an open attitude. “We aim to bring relations back to a positive and constructive track,” he affirmed.
Both sides agreed to collaborate in maintaining peace in the border areas and to make new progress in consultations on border affairs. They also committed to strengthening communication within frameworks such as the East Asia Cooperation Platform, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Group of Twenty, and BRICS. The ministers emphasized joint efforts to practice multilateralism and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.
This meeting signals a concerted effort by both nations to not only manage their differences but also to enhance cooperation on regional and global issues, reflecting a shared vision for stability and growth in Asia.
(Source: Xinhua)
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China and India should handle differences properly, Wang Yi says
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