Ambassador Sun Weidong made a speech on recent media inquiries and bilateral meetings between Chinese and Indian foreign ministers
1. The bilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of China and India reached a five-point consensus, which was regarded as a positive step, and some people were cautious about it.
What do you think?
A: Since the border incidents occurred this year, how to correctly grasp the development direction of China-India relations has become more important.
The leaders of the two countries have reached a series of important consensuses. One of the basic judgments is that China and India are partners rather than rivals, and opportunities rather than threats.
Therefore, China and India must be peaceful and not conflict; they must cooperate and win-win, not zero-sum games; they must trust, not suspicion; China-India relations must advance, not retreat.
This is the right direction to push the relations between the two countries back on track.
The five-point consensus reached during the meeting between the Chinese and Indian foreign ministers includes adhering to the consensus of the leaders of the two countries, easing the situation on the ground, maintaining peace and tranquility in the border area, maintaining smooth diplomatic communication, and accelerating the completion of new confidence-building measures. This is the right direction for both parties. This important step forward will provide political impetus to ease the border situation and promote the development of bilateral relations.
I have noticed that Indian public opinion is positive about the five-point consensus and believes that both sides have demonstrated the political will to resolve the border issues.
I hope and believe that as long as the two sides earnestly implement the consensus reached by the foreign ministers of the two countries and implement it to the front-line forces, and adhere to the correct way of dialogue and negotiation, the two sides can find a way to overcome the current difficulties.
2. What impact will the bilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of India and China have on the relations between the two countries?
A: As State Councilor Wang Yi said during the meeting, it is normal for China and India to have some differences as two neighboring powers. However, to put the differences in the proper place in bilateral relations, the key is to insist on China and India are not competitors, but partners. They have a strategic consensus that they do not pose threats to each other and are opportunities for development.
China-India relations have now reached a crossroads again.
The challenge we face is to overcome the epidemic, revive the economy, and improve people's livelihood. What we need is cooperation rather than confrontation, and mutual trust rather than suspicion.
The more difficult it is, the more it is necessary to stabilize the overall situation and maintain mutual trust.
As long as the two sides firmly grasp the correct direction of China-India relations and continue to move forward on the basis of the past, there will be no obstacles that cannot be overcome or difficulties that cannot be overcome.
3. The Chinese side calls for disengagement as soon as possible and withdrawing troops from India and the border crossing.
What is your opinion on the current ground situation and the next development?
A: The relevant government department of India recently issued a statement saying that Indian troops have taken "preemptive strike" measures against China in the area south of Pangong Lake. This fully proves that there is illegal crossing of the line and unilaterally changing the status quo of the border area.
The Indian media also cited government information to disclose that the Indian army fired two shots. For the first time since 1975, the calm on the border between the two countries was broken by gunfire.
In view of this, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized in the meeting that the top priority is to immediately stop shooting and provocation and other dangerous behaviors that violate promises, withdraw all cross-line personnel and equipment, disengage as soon as possible, and promote the easing of the situation.
China supports the border defense forces of both sides to strengthen on-site dialogue to resolve specific issues, and is also willing to maintain communication with India through diplomatic and military channels.
Regarding the next development, the foreign ministers of the two countries agreed that as the situation eases, the two sides should speed up the completion of new mutual trust-building measures to maintain and enhance peace and tranquility in the border area.
This solution is very clear.