PTI

Beijing, March 7

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated on Monday that “some setbacks” in China-India relations lately will not be within the basic pursuits of each the nations at the same time as he said that variations over the vexed boundary problem and territory shouldn’t “interfere with the bigger picture of bilateral cooperation”.

Wang, who can also be China’s Special Representative on the India-China boundary query together with National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, expressed the hope that China and India will probably be “partners for mutual success instead of adversaries of mutual attrition.”

“China, India relations have encountered some setbacks in recent years which don’t serve the fundamental interests of two countries and the two peoples,” Wang stated in his annual press convention right here on the sidelines of China’s parliament session.

China and India ought to be companions moderately than rivals, he stated, replying to a query from PTI that the relations proceed to stay at all-time low for the third yr in succession and the way Beijing sees the ties evolving this yr.

Wang stated that some forces have at all times sought to stoke tensions between China and India, in an obvious reference to the US.

“As regards the boundary question, it is left over from history,” he stated, repeating Beijing’s stand.

“China has all along advocated managing differences through equal footing consultation and actively seeking a fair and equitable settlement and meanwhile not letting it affect or interfere with the bigger picture of bilateral cooperation,” he stated.

Additionally, Wang stated, “I am talking about issues related to the boundary and territory. I think people should understand this.”

He, nonetheless, didn’t elaborate on his remarks on “boundary and territory”, which had been regarded by observers right here as one thing new.

The relations between the 2 nations nose-dived after the japanese Ladakh standoff in 2020 following China transferring hundreds of troops to a number of disputed areas alongside the Line of Actual Control (LAC) which was strongly objected to and resisted by India.

Last month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had stated that India’s relationship with China is correct now going by a “very difficult phase” after Beijing violated agreements to not carry navy forces to the border.

Speaking at a panel dialogue on the Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2022 in Germany, Jaishankar had stated India was having an issue with China alongside the LAC.

As a results of a sequence of navy and diplomatic talks, the Indian and Chinese armies accomplished the disengagement course of within the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and Gogra areas however the standoff continued within the Hot Springs space.

The two sides to date held 14 rounds of Commanders stage talks to resolve the japanese Ladakh standoff.

Also in a veiled assault on the United States on the formation of Quad alliance comprising the US, India, Japan and Australia, Wang stated, “as we have seen some forces have always sought to stoke tension between China and India and division between the regions. Their attempts have put more and more thoughtful people in reflection and on alert.”

“More people have come to realise that for China and India, both major countries with a population of over a billion, only by staying independent can we firmly grasp our own destiny and realise our goals of development and rejuvenation,” he stated.

Answering one other query, Wang stated the US’ Indo-Pacific technique is turning into a byword for “bloc politics’”.

“The US professes a desire to advance regional cooperation, but in reality it is stoking geopolitical rivalry. It talks a lot about returning to multilateralism, but in reality, it is forming exclusive clubs. It claims to uphold international rules, but in reality it is setting and imposing rules that suit itself and its acolytes,” he stated.

Wang criticised the US insurance policies within the Asia-Pacific region- strengthening the Five Eyes intelligence community, “peddling the “Quad” safety dialogue, piecing collectively AUKUS (Australia, US and UK) and tightening bilateral navy alliances”.

“This is by no means some kind of blessing for the region, but a sinister move to disrupt regional peace and stability,” he stated.

Wang stated the US functions are to keep up the US-led system of hegemony, undermine the ASEAN-cantered regional cooperation structure and compromise the general and long-term pursuits of nations within the area.

“The perverse actions run counter to the common aspiration of the region for peace, development, cooperation and win-win outcomes. They are doomed to fail,” he added.

Elaborating on China’s stand on Sino-India relations, he stated China and India have a mixed inhabitants of over 2.8 billion and account for one-third of humanity, and when the 2 nations lively stability and prosperity and residing in peace and concord, international peace and prosperity may have a strong basis.

“As an Indian proverb goes, help your own brother’s boat across and your own will reach the shore. We hope that India will work with China to uphold the strategic consensus that our two countries pose no threat, offer development opportunities to each other and continue to build mutual trust, avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation so that we will be partners for mutual success instead of adversaries of mutual attrition,” he stated.

He stated the 2 neighbours “should make it possible for our relationship strikes ahead heading in the right direction, carry extra advantages to our peoples and make better contribution to the area and the world.