Breaking protocol, Chinese President Xi Jinping met India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday and hoped “new progress” would be made in the India-China relations in the new year. The Chinese President rarely meets visiting Foreign Ministers from other countries. However, with India being a “special friend” of China, President Xi made an exception by agreeing to meet Sushma Swaraj, who is on a three-day tour to Beijing. Xi also met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey lavrov, who is in Beijing for a trilateral meeting among Foreign Ministers of China, Russia and India. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted that Russia-India-China Ministers are united in Beijing on countering terrorism and called to bring to justice perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of terrorist acts. The Ministers also agreed to enhance trilateral co-operation to improve regional connectivity in Asia.
“I have full confidence in India-China relations and I believe that new progress will be achieved in this bilateral relationship in the new year,” Xi told Sushma, who called on him at the Great Hall of the People. Xi said that relations between the two countries have achieved a turnaround and entered into a new stage of growth after his visit to India in September last year.
“The positive side of India-China relations has been growing and momentum of our cooperation has been strengthening, and solid steps are being taken to implement agreements reached between Prime Minister Modi and I,” Xi said. He added China and India have taken “solid steps” to make new progress in bilateral ties besides implementing the agreements reached between him and Modi.
Recalling fond memories of his India visit, Xi told Swaraj: “last September, I visited India and cherish the memories of the gracious hospitality extended to me by the (Indian) Government and people of India. In particular, I cherish the memories of Prime Minister Modi’s home province Gujarat. The Prime Minister himself accompanied me on that trip.”
The Chinese President conveyed his best wishes to the Indian leadership. “Please convey my best regards and greetings to President (Pranab) Mukherjee and Prime Minister Modi when you go back,” Xi said. Reciprocating Xi’s warm words, Sushma said Prime Minister Modi has sent his greetings and best wishes for the Chinese lunar Year of Sheep, which commences on February 19. “Prime Minister Modi has extended his very best greetings for the Chinese lunar Year of Sheep, which I have been told is associated with creativity and innovation... Your visit to India was also associated with creativity and innovation based on which the two countries explored new ways forward,” she said.
later, Sushma met her Russian counterpart Sergey lavrov ahead of the Russia, India, China Foreign Ministers meeting. Talks centred on the vision document called Druzhba-Dosti issued during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India last year, aimed at strengthening the Indian-Russian partnership over the next decade.