“From a situation of limited contacts and content, India and China have today transitioned out of their state of abnormalcy. We must give due credit to the efforts of successive governments on both sides who have ensured peace and tranquility on the border, even as negotiations on its settlement continue,” Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar said while speaking at the East West Centre conference in New Delhi on Friday.
Jaishankar stressed that the current government has taken initiatives to address the challenges between the two countries and strengthen the positive development of recent ties.
India said that the sensitive nature of Indo-Chinese ties demands extra precaution from both sides to sustain relations. Cooperation in the field of counter terrorism is one of the major areas where the two nations should cooperate.
“Displaying mutual sensitivity to each other’s concerns is very necessary. There is an expectation in India that a partner like China would be appreciative of India’s interests, especially when they are not in conflict with those of China. Combating terrorism is one such area and sanctioning of well-known terrorist leaders and organizations should not emerge as an issue of difference. Nor should reservations on developmental issues, such as India’s predictable access to international cooperation and investment in the field of civil nuclear energy,” Jaishankar said.
India today is at important geo-political crossroads. Its ability to integrate more closely with South Asia, East and South East Asia has the potential to transform the Asian landscape.
