China, India vow to boost strategic communication, mutual trust

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China and India on Monday vowed to step up "strategic communication, enhance political mutual trust" stressing that the Asian neighbors' "shared interests outweigh the differences" as Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale in Beijing.

Both sides also reiterated their confidence in the "Wuhan spirit" that emerged from last year's informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in the capital city of central China's Hubei Province.

Gokhale, a known China-hand within the Indian establishment, was on a two-day visit to Beijing on Sunday and Monday for regular diplomatic consultation between the two neighbors and also held talks with China's Vice Foreign Ministers Le Yucheng and Kong Xuanyou and Deputy Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Liu Jianchao, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated.

India's Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale (L) during his meeting with China's Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng in Beijing, China, April 22, 2019. /Photo via Indian Embassy in Beijing

India's Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale (3rd R) and China's Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou (4th L) lead their respective delegations during talks in Beijing, China, April 22, 2019. /Photo via Indian Embassy in Beijing

India's Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale (L) during his meeting with Liu Jianchao, Deputy Director of the Officie of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, in Beijing, China, April 22, 2019. /Photo via Indian Embassy in Beijing

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"In the meetings and talks held this morning, the Chinese side said that as neighboring major countries, representatives of emerging economies and strategic cooperative partners, China and India should step up strategic communication, enhance political mutual trust and maintain close coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang told reporters at a press conference in Beijing.

"Our shared interests far outweigh the differences. The two sides need to strengthen solidarity and coordination, keep the positive momentum of the sound and steady development of bilateral relations achieved since the Wuhan summit between our leaders, and uphold the common interests of emerging markets and developing countries," he added.

Attributing an identical statement to Wang, Xinhua news agency reported that the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister "called on the two sides to stand in solidarity, sustain the positive momentum of sound and steady bilateral relationship, and safeguard the common interests of emerging economies and developing countries."

Gokhale, on his part, noted that bilateral exchanges have picked up a positive momentum after the landmark Xi-Modi informal summit.

"Since the Wuhan summit, the two sides have had an active political exchange, advanced practical cooperation and successfully held the first meeting of India-China high-level people-to-people exchanges mechanism. India stands ready to maintain high-level exchange with China, enhance mutual understanding, accommodate each other's concerns and strive for greater progress in bilateral relations," he said.

In a separate media statement, the Indian Embassy in Beijing stated that both sides "reviewed the progress made in India-China bilateral relations since the informal summit between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping in April 2018 and discussed the agenda for bilateral engagement in the coming months."

"The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest, including the Indo-Pacific," the statement added.

Deepening military relations

Chinese navy personnel moor the Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata at Qingdao Port for the 70th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the PLA Navy, in Qingdao, China, April 21, 2019. /Reuters Photo

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Gokhale's visit coincided with the arrival on Sunday of two Indian naval ships in the Chinese port of Qingdao for participation in the international fleet review (IFR) as part of the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.

India's indigenous stealth destroyer INS Kolkata and fleet tanker INS Shakti will participate in the maritime parade on Tuesday. The harbor stay of the Indian navy ships will be marked by the interaction between personnel of participating navies, courtesy calls to various dignitaries of PLA navy and government officials, professional exchanges and various sporting events. Ships will be open for visits by PLA navy personnel and the local populace, according to an official statement by the Indian Navy.

"Participation by the Indian Navy in the PLA Navy IFR is part of the efforts towards deepening the military-to-military relations between India and China, which is in keeping with the strategic guidance provided by the leaders of both countries," the Indian Embassy in Beijing said in a media release.

The past year has witnessed an intensification of such exchanges, including an exchange of visits by the defense ministers and Army/Theatre Commanders of both countries. A high-level delegation from the PLA Air Force participated in the Bangalore Air Show, and the Vice Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force participated in the Zhuhai Air Show in 2018, it stated.

The PLA Navy was represented at the Rear Admiral-level at the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) 10th anniversary celebrations in Kochi in November last year.

"Besides these high-level engagements, there have also been professional interactions at the mid and junior officers levels. These include the army joint training exercise 'Hand-in-Hand', and participation by PLA Navy cadets in the Admiral's Cup Regatta at the Indian Naval Academy," the media release

"It is anticipated that the PLA Navy IFR will further this ongoing process of enhancing mutual trust and understanding," it added.

(Cover image: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale in Beijing, China, April 22, 2019. /Xinhua Photo)

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