Chinese FM says its 2015 diplomacy focuses on ‘Belt and Road’
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi seemed to reassure India that there will be no incursions across the border when he announced on Sunday that the boundary dispute has been “contained”.
“The dispute has been contained. At the moment, the boundary negotiation is in the process of building up small positive developments,” Wang said at a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing session of the parliament, the National People’s Congress.
Painting a picture of two neighbours striving hard to reach a common goal of border settlement, Wang said, “It is like climbing a mountain and the going is tough because we are on the way up.”
“This is all the more reason that we do more to strengthen China-India cooperation so that we can enable and facilitate the settlement of the boundary question,” he said.
The foreign minister said China is keen to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his forthcoming visit to Beijing, which will be in response to invitation extended by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his India visit last year.
“Chinese people believe in reciprocating the courtesy of others. I am sure when Prime Minister Modi visits China later this year, he will be warmly welcomed by the Chinese government and people,” he said.
“Last September, President Xi Jinping made an historic visit to India. Picture of the two leaders working at a spinning wheel in Gujarat, the home state of prime minister, has spread far and wide in China,” Wang said.
The foreign minister said, “China-India boundary question, a legacy of history. We have worked on it for many years and made some progress in the boundary negotiations”.
Citing China’s erstwhile top leaders, Deng Xiaoping who was keen on an improved India-China relationship, Wang said, “China is prepared to work with India to implement important agreements reached by our leaders.”
“Chinese dragon and Indian elephant should join in a duet to work for the early revitalization of two ancient civilizations, common prosperity of the two emerging markets and amicable coexistence of two large neighbours,” he said.
BELT AND ROAD:
Moreover, he said that China’s diplomacy in 2015 will focus on making all around progress in the “Belt and Road” initiatives.
“The keyword for China’s diplomacy in 2015 will be one focus and two main themes,” Wang said.
Referring the focus to the progress of “Belt and Road” initiatives, Wang said China will further enhance policy communicating with other countries, expand the convergence of the shared interests and explore possible areas of win-win cooperation.
The priorities will be promoting connectivity, building overland economic corridors and pillars of maritime cooperation, he said. China will also improve cultural and people-to-people exchanges and speed up talks of free trade areas with relevant countries.
“We are confident that Belt and Road initiatives will win even more supports and deliver even more early harvests,” he said.
Two main themes will be peace and development, the minister noted.
