Luo Zhaohui said that both the countries should narrow their differences and adopt confidence-building measures.
New Delhi: Bilateral ties between India and China can’t take the strain of another Doklam episode, the Chinese envoy to India Luo Zhaohui said today, emphasising on the need to find a “mutually acceptable solution” on the boundary issue through a meeting of the Special Representatives.
The Chinese envoy said at an event here that “some Indian friends” had suggested a trilateral summit comprising India, China and Pakistan, which was a “very constructive” idea.
Dwelling on Sino-Indian ties, he said it is quite natural to have differences but they need to be controlled and managed through cooperation.
“We need to control, manage, narrow differences through expanding cooperation. The boundary question was left over by history. We need to find a mutual acceptable solution through Special Representatives’ Meeting while adopting confidence building measures,” he said.
“We cannot stand another Doklam (sic),” the envoy said.
He was delivering a keynote address on ‘Beyond Wuhan: How Far and Fast can China-India Relations Go’ at an event organised by the Chinese Embassy here.
Indian and Chinese troops were involved in a 73-day stand-off at the Doklam tri-junction of India, Bhutan and China between June to August last year.
One of the immediate fallouts of the Doklam stand-off was the suspension of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from Nathu-La side and the annual military exercise between the two countries. China also did not give the hydrological data of the Brahmaputra and the Indus river that originates in Chinese Tibet.
The envoy today said China will continue to promote religious exchanges and make arrangements for Indian pilgrims going to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet.
Post-Doklam, there have been frequent high-level engagements between the leaders of the two countries.
This year alone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping have met twice in the last two months in Wuhan and Qingdao.
Luo said the two leaders are also likely to meet on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit and G20 Summit later this year.
He noted that security cooperation is one of the three pillars of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, an eight-member grouping also comprising India, China and Pakistan.
The envoy said the proposal of India, China and Pakistan holding a trilateral summit was “very constructive”. Leaders of China, Russia and Mongolia hold a similar meet, he noted.
“This is a proposal suggested by some Indian friends and it is a very a good and constructive idea. Maybe not now, but in the future, that is the great idea.”
The envoy added that relations between India and China have gone beyond the bilateral scope.
“We need to enhance coordination and cooperation in SCO, BRICS and join hands to tackle social challenges,” he said.
Responding to a question on India-China cooperation in Afghanistan, Luo said the two countries have identified a programme to train Afghan public servants and diplomats.
“This is a first step and in future, there is more…,” he said.
In the informal summit between Modi and Xi at the Wuhan, the two countries had
agreed to work jointly on an economic project in Afghanistan.-PTI
Prof PK Sharma, Freelance Journalist, Barnala(Punjab)
Chinese envoy to India Mr.Luo Zhaohui’s recent sentiments on sweetening Sino-Indian bilateral ties is a welcome development.
Mr.Zhaohui has talked of controlling, managing and narrowing down differences through expanding co-operation.
Then he expressed his nation’s desire to resolve Sino-Indian boundary feuds and conflicts through “mutually acceptable
solution”.
In this context, India needs a thorough and deep home work to respond very cautiously and vigilantly keeping in view
China’s “dubious track record” so far as diplomacy is concerned.
Then holding of a trilateral summit of India, China and Pakistan seems to be a utopian and funny thought ! Mr.Luo recalled
that ” some Indian friends” did come forth with this suggestion !
The suggestion is indeed fine but for moving in that direction, first of all India has to set its own house in order !
We have to bear in mind the popular maxim,”Charity begins at home.”
If PM Modi led Government wishes to improve its ties with its neighbours through co-operation and co-ordination why should not he learn the art of controlling, managing and narrowing down differences at home first with non-BJP ruled states Chief Ministers and opposition parties to usher in an era of better understanding, co-operation and co-ordination ?
How can PM Modi imagine and think of improving relations with neighbouring countries when he can not narrow down and resolve his differences with Mr. Arvind Kejriwal ” his Delhi Chief Minister ” ?
Ironically, learning lessons in co-operation and co-ordination at home may enable PM Modi to reap successes in expanding these twin virtues abroad too !
This proverb should also haunt PM Modi all the time in the best national interests :
” Actions Speak Louder Than Words ” !
Prof PK Sharma, Freelance Journalist
Pom Anm Nest, Barnala(Punjab)