Vinayak Barot
NEW DELHI, August 18: Demonstrating its softening of stand since the Ladakh face-off, China has showed its keenness to diminish the differences with India.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said China was ready to work with India to “enhance political mutual trust, properly manage their differences, and safeguard the long-term development of bilateral ties.”
Zhao said this at a regular media briefing on Monday when a Western media journalist sought China’s reaction to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks at his Independence Day rally in Delhi that the Indian armed forces had given befitting reply to those challenging the country’s sovereignty apparently hinting at Pakistan and China.
Stating that China had “noted” Modi’s speech, Zhao said “We are close neighbors and emerging countries with over one billion people. Sound development of bilateral ties will not only serve the interest of the people of the two countries but is also imperative for stability, peace and prosperity of the region and the whole world. The right path for the two sides is to respect and support each other as this serves our long-term interests,” Zhao added.
During his address to the nation on the Independence Day, Modi while paying glowing tributes to the martyrs had stated, “from Line of Control (LoC) to Line of Actual Control (LAC) anyone who casts an eye on the sovereignty of the country, the Indian armed forces have responded in the language the enemies understand.”
Referring to the Galwan Valley clashes in eastern Ladakh in June, the prime minister said, “Respect for India’s sovereignty is supreme and the world has seen in Ladakh what its brave jawans can do to maintain this resolve and added that the whole country was united in protecting the sovereignty of the nation.