PM voiced concern over Chinese incursion at border
New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday voiced India’s serious concern over the recent Chinese incursion in Ladakh and told his counterpart Li Keqiang that in the absence of peace and tranquility along the border, bilateral ties will suffer.
57-year-old Li, on his first foreign trip met Singh at his official residence and exchanged views on the contentious boundary dispute, trans-border rivers and trade deficit.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and senior officials including National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and India’s Ambassador to China S Jaishankar (from the Indian side) were also present at the meeting.
China and India are friendly neighbours linked by mountains and rivers, said the Chinese Premier. “In the 21st century, political exchanges between the two countries are getting more frequent and practical cooperation is expanding,” Li said. Li said that it serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and their people and is a blessing to Asia and the world at large that China and India co-exist peacefully, maintain friendly relations and work together to realize national rejuvenation.
He also said that China regarded India as an important partner and friend, adding, “I am looking forward to exchanging views with Indian leaders on bilateral ties and regional and global issues of common concern.”
Li also expressed confidence that his visit would strengthen mutual trust, deepen cooperation, expand common interests and consolidate bilateral friendship, which would inject new vigour into the China-India strategic and cooperative partnership designed for peace and prosperity.
On Monday, Singh and Li, accompanied by high-level delegations, will hold comprehensive talks on key bilateral, international and regional issues.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived India on Sunday on a three-day state visit, his first overseas trip after assuming office in March. From India, Li will go to Pakistan, Switzerland and Germany. He is in India at the invitation of Manmohan Singh.
