China News Service, Beijing, September 14 (Reporter Li Jingze) Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun hosted a regular press conference on the 14th.
A reporter asked: On September 12, President Xi Jinping met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India. The leaders of China and India have met successfully for three consecutive years. What new important consensus did the leaders of the two countries reach on China-India relations during their meeting?
Guo Jiakun: As you said, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi have successfully met for three consecutive years. If the Kazan and Tianjin meetings lead to a "restart" and "re-improvement" of Sino-Indian relations, then the New Delhi meeting is a "reaffirmation" of the development of Sino-Indian relations by the leaders of the two countries. The most important consensus reached at the meeting is that China and India should be partners.
President Xi Jinping pointed out that China and India have different national conditions and can definitely learn from each other's strengths, support each other, achieve each other's achievements, and develop together. Both sides should calibrate the direction with an objective and rational strategic understanding, achieve mutual success with the concept of win-win cooperation, eliminate interference with the political wisdom of mutual respect and mutual understanding, benefit the world with open and inclusive multilateral collaboration, and jointly promote the stability and long-term development of China-India relations. Prime Minister Modi said that India adheres to an independent foreign policy and develops relations with China without being influenced by a third party. India does not allow any force to engage in anti-China activities in India. China attaches great importance to the important statement made by Prime Minister Modi.
The leaders of the two countries agreed that China and India, as the two most populous countries in the world and important members of the Global South, should focus on development as the greatest common denominator, strengthen friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation, and improve the public opinion basis for bilateral relations. Address each other's economic and trade concerns in a balanced manner and promote the healthy and stable development of economic and trade relations between the two countries. The two sides agreed to support each other in serving as BRICS chairpersons, promote cooperation in the Global South, promote world multipolarity, and be a stable and progressive force in a turbulent world. At the same time, the leaders of the two countries agreed to properly handle conflicts and differences between China and India and jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas.
The improvement and development of China-India relations is not only welcomed by the more than 2.8 billion people on both sides, but also a necessary step towards strengthening cooperation in the global South. The leaders of the two countries have once again set the direction for the development of China-India relations. China is willing to work with India to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, continue to expand the list of cooperation, intensify people-to-people and cultural exchanges, deepen multilateral collaboration, promote the continuous improvement and development of bilateral relations, support each other's development and revitalization, and jointly contribute to regional and even world peace and prosperity.
