China conveys desire to establish robust partnership with India
NEW DELHI: Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang on Thursday called his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and conveyed his government’s desire to establish robust partnership with the new government of India for further development of ties.
Li, who is the first foreign head of government to call up Modi since he took over as Prime Minister, congratulated him on his victory in the recent general elections.
During the 25-minute telephonic conversation, Li conveyed to Modi the Chinese government’s desire to establish robust partnership with the new government of India for further development of relations between the two nations.
Modi, on his part, noted that China was always a priority in India’s foreign policy.
Thanking Li for his earlier message of felicitations, he underlined his government’s resolve to utilize the full potential of “our strategic and cooperative partnership with China and his keenness to work closely with the Chinese leadership to deal with any outstanding issues in bilateral relations by proceeding from the strategic perspective of our developmental goals and long-term benefits to our peoples”.
Modi also welcomed greater economic engagement between the two countries.
The two leaders agreed to maintain frequent high-level exchanges and communication.
Modi extended through Premier Li an invitation to President Xi Jinping to pay a visit to India later this year. (Agencies)
Chinese Foreign Minister to arrive in June
New Delhi: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will arrive here on June 8 as a special envoy of his government to formally establish contacts with Narendra Modi- led dispensation and deepen ties between the two countries.
China has officially conveyed its decision to send Wang, a seasoned diplomat, to greet Modi and interact with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. China on Wednesday expressed keen interest in establishing high-level contacts with India’s new leadership at the earliest to step up engagement in political, trade and economic areas.
“China attaches high importance to relations with India and is ready to work with the new Indian government to maintain high-level contacts,” China’s influential State Councillor Yang Jiechi told India’s Ambassador Ashok K Kantha during a meeting in Beijing on Wednesday.
China has already conveyed its interest in having a top Indian leader attend the 60th anniversary of Panchasheel, the five principles enunciated jointly by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his then Chinese counterpart Zhou Enlai in 1954. China is hosting a function to mark the occasion on June 28 in which high level delegation from Myanmar, which too was associated with Panchasheel concept, is expected to participate. China had already conveyed to India Chinese President Xi Jinping’s wish to visit New Delhi after the Lok Sabha elections. (PTI)