Contact is taking a holiday!

The spotlight in India is on the forthcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to China. On the agenda will be the unresolved territorial dispute reflected in the incursions by China into Indian territory and the Chinese military buildup during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India last September. Another expected topic for discussion is the concern that Modi has expressed on China’s “expansionist” tendencies as well as on problems faced by India on freedom of navigation in South China Sea.

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has been on a visit to Beijing to pave the way for Modi’s visit and said that the Indian side hopes for more dialogue on border issues, and to look at investment from China and more balanced trade between two countries. She also discussed the opening of an additional pilgrim route for Indians to undertake the Kailash Manasorvar Yatra which will provide a more comfortable journey experience to pilgrims with a facility to travel to Kailash-Manasarovar directly by buses. Xi had promised Modi that he would open this new route when he visited New Delhi last year.

Ms Swaraj also highlighted the role the media could play to promote ties between India and China, especially on the positive aspects of relations between the two countries, speaking of the media’s role in promoting “each other’s interests and view points”.

The Chinese Information Minister said “In recent years, India-China relations have seen all-around development. Our mutual strategic trust has been enhanced. Our interests are increasingly interwoven”.

Chinese President Xi said he “welcomes Prime Minister Modi to visit China at an early date” and expressed full confidence in the Sino-India relationship, saying that he is hoping to make some new progress in this growing bilateral relationship in the future. “The positive side of India-China relations has been growing and the momentum of our co-operation has been strengthening and solid steps are being taken to implement agreements reached between Prime Minister Modi and I”, said Xi.