India ready to walk difficult path, Misri on opportunity to rebuild ties with China

In a signal of rapidly changing geopolitical alignments, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has said there was an opportunity “to rebuild India-China ties.”

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He reiterated a caveat on how the two countries should go forward, saying there is a lesson, which is “peace and tranquility along border areas is critical for the smooth development of our bilateral relations.”

While referring to the long military stand-off in Eastern Ladakh, he added, “We have resolved several issues along the border areas.”

Misri recounted the “difficult phase” and mentioned that for both countries, a durable basis for rebuilding ties is the three-fold formula—mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interests.

“The path forward may be a difficult one, but we are prepared to walk that path,” Misri said.

He was speaking on Tuesday night at an event hosted by the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi to mark 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The event was attended by several diplomats.

The host of the event, China’s Ambassador to India Xu Feihong, also spoke about the need to rebuild ties.

Earlier, Misri had added that the bilateral relationship between India and China is important. A stable bilateral relationship between the two would contribute to humanity. “It is, therefore, our wish and desire to use this occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to rebuild ties,” he added.

Misri referred to the meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping had on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, saying both countries are now working together to return to a stable and predictable partnership.

“We are taking several steps to resume practical cooperation between our countries,” the Foreign Secretary added. Among the discussions are the resumption of cooperation on rivers, direct air services, and the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar yatra.

Misri referred to the developments of the past five months as “promising beginnings,” which he said should turn into tangible benefits for the people of our two nations.

The Chinese Ambassador Xi Feihong cited how Chinese President Xi Jinping had emphasised how both sides should view and handle China-India relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, and seek ways for neighboring major countries to get along in peaceful coexistence, mutual trust and mutual benefit as well as common development.

Bridging differences through dialogue is the “one and only key” of China-India relations. Our focus is to ensure that differences don’t turn into disputes, Xu added.