BEIJING: China’s State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China was committed to settling boundary dispute with India through dialogue and consultation but at the same time, it resolved to safeguard its sovereign rights and interests.
“China’s position is very clear. We are committed to settling the boundary dispute through dialogue and consultation. At the same time, we have resolved to safeguard our sovereign rights and interests,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 13th National People’s Congress in Beijing.
He said the right and wrongs of what happened in the border area last year were clear, adding, “It again proves that initiating confrontation will not solve the problem.”
Wang Yi said that was important that two sides manage disputes properly and at the same time expand and enhance cooperation to create enabling conditions for the settlement of the issue.
The state councilor said returning to peaceful negotiation was the right way forward, adding, “It falls on both sides to solidify existing consensus, strengthen dialogue and communication, and improve various management mechanisms to
jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border area.”
He remarked that the China-India relationship was essentially about how the world’s two largest developing countries get along and pursue development and rejuvenation together for years.
“As two ancient civilisations next door to each other and as two major emerging economies with each over one billion people, China and India have broad common interests and tremendous potential for cooperation for both,” he added. – Agencies
