April 20, 2024 17:40 (IST)
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Indo-China relation bound by history: Modi
New Delhi, Sept 16 (IBNS): Ahead of the landmark visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India and China are bound by history and connected by culture, which can aid in "scripting history" again.
Referring to the large population base of India and China, Modi said that when both these countries make progress, almost 35 percent of the world's population benefits.
Speaking to Chinese journalists ahead of Xi's visit, Modi said: "I think that the special and unique nature of India-China relations rests in the fact that India and China are bound by history and connected by culture. India and China both have rich traditions."
He said, "India and China today constitute almost 35% of the world’s population. From a purely arithmetic point of view, the betterment of 35% of the world’s population and eradication of poverty; that they decide to work together will open big gates for progress and development in the world. It will not take long for the rest 65% to rise as well."
Modi said that it is India and China, who were responsible for the largest GDP contribution in the world some 300 years back.
"If you go back 300 years into history, the largest GDP contribution in the world used to come from India and China, who together contributed more than half of the world’s GDP. Not only from the perspective of arithmetic, India and China also have common chemistry. Whenever India and China have worked and grown together, this has also led to the development and economic prosperity of the world," said the PM.
He said sugar is called 'Cheeni' in Hindi owing to the fact that Chinese technology is used to refine the same.
"You would have heard that in India, we call sugar in Hindi as ‘cheeni’. It is not known as ‘cheeni’ for nothing. It is because of the Chinese technology that we were able to refine the sugar and make it pure and hence the people of India, started calling sugar as ‘cheeni’," said he.
Modi said with the aid of India's neighbour China, history can be re-scripted.
"There is a history of deep ties between our people and between our countries. The arithmetic and chemistry of our relations convinced me that together we can script history and create a better tomorrow for all of mankind," said the PM.
Speaking on how India and China can work together in promoting peace and development, Modi said the same can be done by "strengthening our strategic communication; enhancing mutual trust and confidence; showing sensitivity to each other's concerns and interests; continuing to maintain a climate of peace, stability and tranquillity in our relations; and, seizing the opportunities for bilateral cooperation and international partnership."
The India PM said his government attaches high priority to relations with China.
"China is our largest neighbour. Relations between neighbours are always of special importance to each country, because their destinies are inter-linked. That is why I have also placed special emphasis on India's neighbourhood. But, I don't see our relations with China only as a neighbour, with which we have had millennia old contacts. China is important for the future of this region and the world," said he.
"We seek a closer developmental partnership. India can benefit from China’s strength in hardware such as creation of infrastructure and development of our manufacturing sector. These are the areas where India wants to make rapid progress. On the other hand, India’s strength in software can help Chinese companies to become more efficient and competitive. It offers opportunity for Indian companies to export services to China. With joint efforts, we can strengthen our economic partnership," Modi said.
With the Chinese President all set to visit Gujarat, Modi reached his home state on Tuesday and is scheduled to host a private dinner for the visiting dignitary after his arrival in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
Xi will arrive at Ahmedabad on Wednesday on a three-day visit to India which will be the third by any Chinese President to India.
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