China Supports Jaishankar’s Comments On Asian Century And Calls Discussions To End The Situation At The Border “Effective”

China reiterated that the two neighbouring nations have “much more common interests than disagreements” on Friday, agreeing with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar that India and China must work together for an Asian Century to occur.

Jaishankar said the relationship between India and China was going through a “extremely difficult phase” as a result of what Beijing had done at the border and emphasised that the Asian Century would not happen if the two neighbours could not work together in response to a series of questions after delivering a lecture on “India’s Vision of the Indo-Pacific” at the esteemed Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok on Thursday.

In eastern Ladakh, Chinese and Indian forces are locked in a protracted confrontation. 16 rounds of Corps Commander Level negotiations between the two parties have already taken place in an effort to end the impasse that began on May 5, 2020, following a violent altercation in the Pangong Lake regions.

India has constantly argued that preserving calm and tranquilly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was essential for the growth of bilateral relations as a whole.

Upon being questioned about Jaishankar’s remarks, Wang Wenbin of the Chinese Foreign Ministry responded, “As a Chinese leader once said, “Unless China and India are developed, there will be no Asian Century. There won’t be a true Asia-Pacific Century or Asian Century until China, India, and the other neighbours are industrialised.

“Since China and India are two historic civilisations, significant developing economies, and neighbours, we share far more interests in common than in contrast. Instead of competing against one another, both sides have the knowledge and skills to support one another “explained he.

When asked if China and India would undertake discussions over the disengagement at the remaining flashpoints in eastern Ladakh, Wang responded, “Regarding the boundary dispute, China and India continue to have good contact. And our conversation is productive.”

“China and India are not each other’s threats, but cooperation partners and development opportunities,” Wang said. He expressed the hope that India will cooperate with China to put these crucial common understandings into action. “Bring China-India relations back to the track of steady and sound development at an early date and safeguard the common interests of China, India, and our fellow developing countries,” Wang said.

In response to Jaishankar’s comments on the Asian Century, Qian Feng, director of the research division at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University in this city,  “Asian Century” has been a driving force for China and India to improve their relations since 1988, and that the use of the phrase by the Indian External Affairs Minister in highlighting the importance of a cordial bilateral relationship is praiseworthy.

Former Chinese president Deng Xiaoping coined the phrase “Asian Century” initially. When he met with Rajiv Gandhi, who was the prime minister of India at the time, in 1988, Qian made the observation that there will not be an Asian Century until the two nations—China and India—develop.

In the meantime, the foreign ministry spokesman underlined China’s opposition to the four-nation alliance made up of India, the US, Japan, and Australia in response to Jaishankar’s comments regarding misgivings to the Quad alliance, which were reportedly from China.

In today’s society, he continued, “creating exclusive groups is against the trend of the times and will not acquire any support or get anywhere. I would want to repeat that our view on Quad is consistent and clear.

Without naming any nation, Jaishankar had stated that “if there are reservations in any quarter, these stem from a desire to exercise a veto on the choices of others. And possibly a unilateralist opposition to a collective and cooperative endeavours” in an apparent reference to China’s opposition to Quad.

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue was established in 2017 in response to China’s assertive actions in the vital Indo-Pacific region.