PM meets Chinese President, takes up boundary issue
Source: The Sangai Express / Agencies

Fortaleza, July 15 2014: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met Chinese President Xi Jinping here and pressed for a solution to the boundary quest-ion, saying if the two sides could amicably resolve the vexed issue, it would set an example for the world on peaceful conflict resolution.

The two leaders, who arrived almost at the same time in this seaside city of Brazil last evening to attend the BRICS Summit, engaged shortly thereafter for what was described as "good discussions and good meeting" .

The meeting - first between the two leaders - was scheduled for 40 minutes but it went on for 80 minutes as it was freewheeling discussion without any constraints.

"Had a very fruitful meeting with Chinese President Mr.Xi Jinping.

We discussed a wide range of issues," Modi tweeted after the meeting with Xi, also the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China.

"Both sides emphasised on the need to find a solution to the boundary question.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of strengthening mutual trust and confidence, and maintaining peace and tranquility on the border," said a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office.

Prime Minister Modi told Xi that "if India and China could amicably resolve the boundary question, it would set an example for the entire world, on peaceful conflict resolution," the statement added.

The two sides have held 17 rounds of the Special Representative talks aimed at resolving the boundary issue.

India asserts that the border dispute covered nearly 4,057-km long Line of Actual Con- trol, while China claims that it confined to about 2,000 km to the area of Arunachal Pra-desh, which it refers as Sou- thern Tibet.

During the meeting, Modi also suggested the addition of one more route for the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra in Tibet, keeping in view the terrain difficulties.

President Xi "accepted this as a suggestion for consideration," the statement said.

The Yatra involves trekking at high altitudes of up to 19,500 feet under arduous conditions.

The leaders of the two fastest growing economies observed that India and China had enormous opportunities to not only forge mutually be-neficial partnerships, but also serve as catalytic agents of Asian and global prosperity.

President Xi underscored the importance of the bilateral relationship and said: 'When India and China meet, the whole world watches' .

The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the high momentum of bilateral engage- ment during the past few weeks, including the visit of Vice President Hamid Ansari to China and the visit of Chi-nese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to India as President Xi's Special Envoy in June.

In a significant development, China invited India to attend a summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in November.

APEC is a forum for 21 countries that seeks to promote free trade and economic cooperation throughout the Asia- Pacific region.

The surprise invitation for the APEC summit as part of partnership and engagement came in the context of the two leaders discussing the need for the two countries to work together in international fora like BRICS and other fora.

Xi also said India should deepen its engagement with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a Eurasian political, economic and military organisation founded in 2001 by China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Prime Minister Modi said India currently has observer status in the SCO, and was ready to accept additional responsibility, if asked to.

The two leaders appeared well prepared for the meeting as both of them referred to the statements made by the other before they assumed power, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.

Their talks centred around all aspects of the bilateral relations, regional and international matters, he said.

President Xi in particular referred to Modi's experience in Gujarat as the Chief Minister and his focus on development.

Modi also recalled his visits to China and underlined that relations between countries are built on the strength of relations between their people.

He expressed hope for increase in tourism and ties between the people of the two ancient civilisations.

Xi confirmed his visit to India in September and extended an invitation to Modi to visit China, which was accepted.

The dates will be decided by diplomatic channels, Akbaruddin said.

Asked if India has accepted the invitation for the APEC summit, he said November was a busy month with SAARC and G20 meetings scheduled but New Delhi considers the invitation as a significant gesture which will be given very serious consideration.

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