New Delhi: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sent his “revolutionary greetings” to Chinese President Xi Jinping on his re-election. Jinping secured an unprecedented third term as the President of China Friday.
While wishing the head of communist China, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader said Sunday that it was commendable that China had emerged as a prominent voice in global politics. He added in his tweet, “Best wishes for the continued efforts to achieve a more prosperous China.”
Revolutionary greetings to President Xi Jinping on his re-election as the President of the People's Republic of China. It is truly commendable that China has emerged as a prominent voice in global politics. Best wishes for the continued efforts to achieve a more prosperous China.
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) March 12, 2023
In most cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among the first leaders to send wishes to his counterparts over their elections or re-elections. However, amid the ongoing tension with China on the border, no wishes poured in from the Prime Minister or any other senior minister.
Vijayan’s tweet comes a week after Foreign Minister S Jaishankar termed India-China ties ‘abnormal’.
Interestingly, last year in January, Vijayan had taken a contrary stand to his party leader when the latter had praised China. Senior CPI(M) leader S. Ramachandran Pillai had created a controversy last year by showering praises on China for gaining strength enough to question American imperialism. A day later, Vijayan had criticised the Chinese approach, countering Pillai’s claim.
India-China relations have worsened over the last few years — particularly after the 2020 Galwan clash — owing to the ongoing border row between the two countries. Earlier this year, India had asserted that peace on border areas was essential for development of ties with China.
Two weeks back, India and China held disengagement talks in Beijing regarding the remaining friction points on the Line of Actual Control between the two countries in eastern Ladakh, but there was no breakthrough.
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
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