‘Vital to be friends’: Xi Jinping says India, China should come together; calls them most civilisational, populous nations | India News

NEW DELHI: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday offered an olive branch to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he said that the Dragon and the Elephant should come together as the world is going towards transformation.In his opening remarks during the delegation level talks with PM Modi, Xi said, “The World is going towards transformation. China and India are two of the most civilisational countries.”“We are the world’s two most populous countries and part of the Global South… It is vital to be friends, a good neighbour, and the Dragon and the Elephant to come together,” he added.The Chinese President also highlighted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of China-India diplomatic relations and said that both nations need to handle relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective.“We must also step up to our historic responsibilities to uphold multilateralism, a multipolar world, and more democracy in international institutions and work together for peace and prosperity in Asia and around the world,” Xi Jinping said.Meanwhile, PM modi said that the India is committed to taking forward its ties with China based on mutual trust, respect and sensitivity.PM Modi said the welfare of 2.8 billion people is linked to bilateral cooperation between India and China. The prime minister noted that there is peace and stability This comes as PM Modi is on his two-day visit to China to attend the Shanghai Corporation Organisation summit in Tianjin. This is PM Modi’s first visit to China in seven years, which have seen ties between the two neighbouring nations deteriorating over border issues that led to a deadly clash at the Galwan valley along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. After Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi visit to India, a consensus was reached on 10 points between the two countries.Both countries also agreed upon setting up two groups will be set up to resolve border disputes between India and China.Earlier, Doval and Wang co-chaired 24th round of the Special Representatives’ dialogue on the Boundary Question.Both sides agreed to reopen trade through the three designated passes — Lipulekh, Shipki La, and Nathu La — to boost cross-border economic activity.The Chinese ambassador also said that the relationship between two countries should not be defined by the border issue.“We should not define the border issue as relationship between our two countries. The border issue is on one side, and cooperation between India and China is on the other side,” he said.