China willing to work with India on fighting terror: President

BEIJING: China has conveyed its willingness to enhance cooperation with India on combating the menace of terrorism, including in the United Nations, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Friday, winding up a “fruitful and productive” four-day visit to that country.

President Pranab Mukherjee with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a delegation level meeting in Beijing on Thursday. PTI photo

Beijing, May 27

China has conveyed its willingness to enhance cooperation with India on combating the menace of terrorism, including in the United Nations, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Friday, winding up a “fruitful and productive” four-day visit to that country.

(No good or bad terrorist, President tells Beijing)

Mukherjee, who met the top Chinese leadership, including President Xi Jinping, on Wednesday, also expressed the hope that China will play a “positive and facilitative role” in ensuring a predictable environment for India in its pursuit of civil nuclear programme in bridging the huge power deficit the country faces.

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His statement on the two issues in his interaction with the media on board Air India One aircraft on his way back home, assume significance in the context of China’s recent action in blocking a UN move to designat Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist and Beijing’s stand that India should sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) for gaining admission to the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group.

The Chinese stand is seen as a bid to scuttle India’s mebership of NSG and New Delhi has dismissed the Chinese proposition.

“Terrorism was an important topic which I covered in my meetings,” the President said. During his discussions with the Chinese leadership, he conveyed to them that there was universal concern over growing acts of terrorism.

“India has been a victim of terrorism for around three and a half decades. There is no good terrorist or bad terrorist. Terrorism respects neither ideology nor geographical boundaries. Wanton destruction is its only aim.

“Comprehensive cooperation by all countries of the world is essential to tackle this global menace. The inernational community must engage in strong and effective action. As close neighbours, India and China should work together. The Chinese leadership agreed that terrorism was a menace to the entire human race. They conveyed their willingness to enhance cooperation, including in the UN,” he said. — PTI