China welcomes PM Modi's 'pragmatic' stance on bilateral relations

China has responded positively to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent comments on India-China relations.

Transcript

00:00There was a mention by Prime Minister Narendra Modi about China and the historical relationship

00:10India and China share in his podcast with Lexford Menon now China has responded to it.

00:16China mouthpiece putting out a statement saying Modi's stance appeared pragmatic.

00:23India is helping positive momentum with the neighbor nation.

00:26Prime Minister Modi on China basically had said there is definitely competition as neighbor

00:31nations but there is not a conflict.

00:34Chinese experts are saying there are definitely stable and healthy turn to the ties.

00:40Prime Minister Modi also had referred to his meeting recently with Xi Jinping and said

00:44how we are trying to ensure that any tensions are put aside and we work together and that

00:49historically India and China have not had any sort of rivalry or problems and China

00:55now welcoming that Modi podcast outreach saying the stand of Prime Minister Modi appeared

00:59pragmatic.

01:00India is helping positive momentum between the two countries.

02:25Here today's foreign affairs editor Geeta Mohan joining me for the latest.

02:54Geeta clearly after a very long time we have had statements coming in between the two countries

02:59which are positive and which are looking ahead for possibly a more positive outcome.

03:04Well that's right and therefore we are looking at the Chinese side also now through their

03:12media mouthpieces such as Global Times sending out signals that this is a positive move gesture

03:20and it just means that India and China in terms of where they are headed and the reality

03:26of needing each other being important in the region is something that the leadership is

03:33discussing.

03:34This certainly comes after the Kazan meeting that took place in Russia and President Putin

03:42was present to ensure that the leadership level meetings take place between India and

03:49China and that certainly swept the ball rolling for the two countries to start engaging yet

03:55again.

03:56Things are not absolutely normal at the border.

03:59There are still a lot of issues, disengagement is not complete.

04:05India will have to see how it navigates that space with China but for now this in a very

04:10rare and after a long time are we seeing the Indian Premier praise India China relations

04:18and the need for the two countries to work together.

04:23The issue of border and boundary questions is something that will have to be resolved.

04:28India is determined to ensure that this engagement is complete and despite that we've seen a

04:36lot of criticism that came that the India China relations stopped because of the aggression

04:44and the aggressive posture of China.

04:46Right now I suppose they're trying to strike a more cordial force.

04:53And eventually can two neighbour nations full of promise come together to possibly become

04:58a bigger united force but of course will also have to be always wary of China's plans.