Competition is fine, not conflict: Modi on China

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India-China cooperation was beneficial not just for the two Asian nations, but also for the world.

Noting that the situation along the Line of Actual Control had normalised and India and China were now working to restore the pre-2020 status along the border, the PM said the exercise could take some time.

Speaking to Lex Fridman on Sunday, Modi said, “Competition is natural but there should not be conflict. We are both old civilisations. If you scan past records, you will find China and India have always learnt from each other. We do not have any history of conflict in the past.”

On whether there was a way forward with Pakistan, PM Modi said all his past attempts to foster peace had been negated.

“The biggest breakthrough in improving relations was an invitation to Pakistan at my swearing-in ceremony in 2014. It was a landmark event which had happened after decades. We gave a message of peace but the results were not good,” said Modi.

He said India had accepted the Partition with a very heavy heart and Pakistan should have thanked India and chosen the path of harmony and peace.