NEW DELHI, Aug 31: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of cross-border terrorism with Chinese President Xi Jinping during bilateral talks and received Beijing’s support in addressing the challenge, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Sunday.
While addressing a press conference in Tianjin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, Misri said the Prime Minister underlined that cross-border terrorism was a priority concern for India and emphasised its impact on both India and China.
“He did underline the fact that this is something that impacts both India and China, and that it’s important, therefore, that we extend understanding and support to each other as both of us combat cross-border terrorism,” Misri said.
The Foreign Secretary added that PM Modi underlined the need for both countries to extend mutual understanding and cooperation in combating terrorism. Misri further said Beijing has extended its support to New Delhi in dealing with the issue.
“I would, in fact, like to say that we have received the understanding and cooperation of China as we have dealt with the issue of cross-border terrorism in the context of the ongoing SCO Summit,” he added.
Misri further said PM Modi also emphasised the importance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas for further developing ties with China, as both leaders committed themselves to a mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary issue and to working together to stabilise the global economy.
“We expect that the existing mechanisms, which is the working mechanism for coordination and cooperation in the border areas between India and China, will meet in the coming days and weeks and the respective leaders of this mechanism from the two sides will come to an understanding on how these mechanisms for the delimitation-related talks are going to go forward,” he added.
Mr Modi is on a two-day visit to China, a first in seven years, to attend the SCO Summit in Tianjin. He met Xi Jinping for the second time since the two sides agreed last October to end a military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which began in April-May 2020.
(Manas Dasgupta)
