China said it is ready to collaborate with India to improve bilateral relations and mentioned that their border dispute “should be handled properly.”
This statement comes close on the heels of Narendra Modi returning to Prime Minister’s chair for record-equalling third straight term though with a reduced majority.
According to a post on X by the Chinese embassy’s spokesperson in India, China also highlighted that a stable relationship is “in the interest of both countries and conducive to peace and development in this region and beyond.”
“China and India are important neighbouring countries. Relevant border issues should be handled properly.
A sound and stable China-India relationship is in the interest of both countries, and conducive to the peace and development in this region and beyond.
China is willing to work with India to push forward bilateral relations in the right direction,” the Spokesperson of Chinese Embassy in India wrote.
The embassy’s statement comes a day after India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar reaffirmed his commitment to “finding a solution for the border issues” with China.
India will focus on resolving the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, Jaishankar said on June 11.
This comes amid the over four-year border dispute in eastern Ladakh that has significantly strained ties between the two Asian giants.
Shortly after taking charge of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for a second term, Jaishankar, referring to cross-border terrorism from Pakistan, said efforts will be made to address the challenge and that it “cannot be the policy of a good neighbour.”
India-China relation after border clashes
China and India’s relationship has been fraught since deadly border clashes in 2020, which resulted in at least 20 Indian soldiers and an undisclosed number of Chinese casualties.
Despite multiple rounds of diplomatic and military negotiations aimed at easing tensions, relations remain tense.
Recently, Chinese Premier Li Qiang congratulated PM Modi on his re-election, but President Xi Jinping has not yet extended his congratulations, highlighting the ongoing strain between the two nations.
Meanwhile, a Chinese government spokeswoman last week criticised an exchange over X between Modi and the government of Taiwan, which China claims as its territory.
“We noted the results of India’s general election and extend congratulations on the victory of the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the National Democratic Alliance,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here.
A healthy and stable China-India relationship is in the interest of both the countries, and conducive to the peace and development in this region and beyond, Mao said while responding to a question by the official media seeking China’s comment on Modi’s win.
China stands ready to work with India to act in the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, bear in mind the overall interest of our ties, look to the future and advance bilateral relations on a healthy and stable track, she said.
India blocks Chinese money
Since 2020, India has tightened restrictions on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from countries sharing land borders, mainly targeting Chinese investments.
This policy change followed the Covid-19 outbreak and increased tensions at the Ladakh border.
Consequently, Chinese automakers such as EV giant BYD have faced hurdles in expanding their investments in India.
BYD also proposed a joint venture with India’s Megha Engineering, one of the biggest buyers of electoral bonds, but this plan was rejected by the home ministry.
In the four years since the rule change, the government has received around 450 applications from Chinese companies, rejecting 180 of them.
Approximately 70 applications have been approved, including some from entities considered essential for iPhone production.
Currently, about 200 proposals are pending with the government.
