BackIndia says strategic dialogue with China as positive, constructive
India's external affairs ministry says the strategic dialogue with China should continue in cases where they failed to find a common ground
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New Delhi: India and China had “open and useful" exchanges on Afghanistan, counter-terrorism and nuclear issues during their recent Strategic Dialogue and felt talks should continue in cases where they failed to find a common ground, the external affairs ministry said Tuesday.
Indian foreign ministry spokesman Gopal Baglay in a statement said it was important that a “balanced and objective" view of what was clearly one of the key relationships in international politics was taken.
The comments were on the India-China Strategic Dialogue held in Beijing last week with Indian foreign secretary S. Jaishankar heading the Indian delegation. China’s executive vice-chairman Hang Yesui headed the Chinese delegation.
“Our assessment is that the recent meeting was positive and constructive. We both agreed that at the time when the global situation is in flux, a more stable, substantive and forward-looking India-China relationship was good for the international system," Baglay said.
“The two sides had open and useful exchanges on Afghanistan, UN, counter-terrorism and nuclear issues. While in some cases we found common ground, in others, it was felt that dialogue should continue further," he said.
The Indian spokesman said that on the bilateral side, there was appreciation of progress on areas like investment. But both sides also articulated their respective concerns and remain committed to working together in that regard, he added.
The two day talks in Beijing came amid a strain in India-China ties after Beijing blocked efforts to get Pakistan-based militant Maulana Masood Azhar listed as a terrorist under UN norms. Added to this is Chinese opposition to India gaining entry to the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group—an elite grouping that controls global nuclear commerce.
Other irritants include an unsettled boundary dispute dating back more than five decades and a burgeoning trade deficit.
At an event hosted by a Mumbai-based think tank earlier this week, Jaishankar said that “if there is one relationship that we need to work on, it’s the China one"—an indication that India was conscious of its complex ties with its northern neighbour.
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