China on Friday said it attaches high importance to its bilateral relations with India and is keen to work with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deepen political trust and mutual cooperation for a closer partnership.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the elections in India were concluded smoothly and referred to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory message to Prime Minister Modi, who was re-elected on May 23 in a stunning victory in the general elections.
“China and India are important neighbours to each other. We are major developing countries and emerging markets. Last year, the Wuhan Summit between President Xi and Prime Minister Modi directed the future for our bilateral relations and opening up new prospects,” Mr. Lu told the media here.
“Now one year later, progress has been made in our bilateral relations and cooperation. China attaches high importance to our bilateral relations and would like to work with India to deepen our political mutual trust and mutual beneficial cooperation for more progress and a closer partnership,” he said.
The April 27-28 Wuhan summit between Mr. Modi and Mr. Xi last year was largely credited to have turned around the bilateral relations soured by the 73-day Doklam standoff, triggered by the attempts of the Chinese troops to build a road close to the Indian border in an area also claimed by Bhutan in 2017.
After the Wuhan summit, both the countries stepped up efforts to improve relations in different spheres including military-to-military ties.
Mr. Xi on Thursday skipped protocol and congratulated Mr. Modi even before the formal declaration of the poll results.