Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang expressed on Thursday that China expects the relationship between China and India to return to a healthy and stable development track. He also stated that China is willing to ease the border situation between the two countries.

He made the remarks when meeting with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on the sidelines of attending the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Panaji, the capital of Goa, India.

China is ready to carry out bilateral consultations and exchanges, enhance dialogue and cooperation under multilateral frameworks, and deepen coordination and cooperation on international and regional issues, Qin also said, adding that "China is willing to bring China-India relations back to a healthy and stable development track." 

As the world's two most populous developing countries both at the point of realizing modernization, China and India should grasp bilateral relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective, make mutual achievements, and take a new path of harmonious coexistence, peaceful development and common revitalization of neighboring countries, so as to provide a boost to the rejuvenation of our respective nations and inject stability and positive energy into the peaceful development of the world, he reiterated.

Noting that the current situation on the China-India border is generally stable, Qin stated that the two countries should continue implementing the consensus by the leaders of the two countries, strictly adhere to the relevant agreements and protocols, promote further easing of the border situation, and maintain long-term peace and tranquility in the border area.

Subrahmanyam presented the Indian side's views on India-China relations, saying that there could be more cooperation in many areas. The Indian side hopes to continue to seek to maintain peace and stability in the border area through consultation with the Chinese side.

Qin also stated that China supports the Indian side in organizing the SCO summit and hopes that India, as the SCO's rotating presidency, will play an active role in the summit's success in the spirit of solidarity and cooperation.

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.

(Cover: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang (L) meets with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Panaji, capital of Goa, India, May 4, 2023. /China's Foreign Ministry)