HANGZHOU: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday conveyed to the Chinese President Xi Jinping his country’s concerns over alleged ‘terrorism’ emanating from Pakistan.
In his 35-minute meeting with the Chinese president on the sidelines of the G20 summit here, Modi conveyed to him that New Delhi and Beijing “will have to be sensitive to each other’s strategic interests”.
“He (Modi) said it is of paramount importance that both countries respect each other’s aspirations, concerns and strategic interests,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup told Indian journalists here, reports the IANS.
Asked whether terrorism was discussed, Swarup said: “It was raised.”Modi also told President Xi that India had serious concerns about the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This was his eighth meeting with Xi as prime minister. “China is willing to work with India to maintain their hard-won sound relations and further advance their cooperation,” President Xi told Modi.
Modi told Xi that “our response to terrorism must not be motivated by political consideration” — an apparent reference to Pakistan, India’s arch rival and China’s all-weather friend.
Modi also raised the issue of terrorism in his meeting with BRICS leaders and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on the sidelines of G20. “In a very hard-hitting intervention, Modi said terrorists in South Asia or anywhere for that matter do not own banks or weapons factories,” Swarup quoted the Indian leader as saying.
Modi told Turnbull: “Our neighbourhood, in particular, is suffering from destabilisation effects of terrorism.” “Clearly, someone funds and arms them, and BRICS must intensify joint efforts not just to fight terror but to coordinate actions to isolate those who are supporters and sponsors of terror,” he said.
Earlier in June, China had blocked India’s entry into the nuclear trade grouping, citing its non-signatory status to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
