India-China border stable, both forces in close communication: Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe

NEW DELHI: Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe has said that India China border is stable and forces of both the countries are in close communication with each other. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, the minister said: "Both sides have close communication with each other and the border area is generally stable. The common interest of China and India far outway our differences."

On the resolution of the boundary dispute, he said, "The Chinese side is ready to work with India to properly handle the boundary question. At the moment management of the boundary question is sound." 

Remember in 2017, the Doklam crisis saw more than two-month-long standoff between Indian and Chinese forces after Bejing tried to build a road on Bhutanese territory.

Calling the relationship between the two countries "sound", General Fenghe recalled the informal Wuhan summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China President Xi Jinping. He said both the leaders provided "guidance for the relationship and the comprehensive strategic partnership has enjoyed sound growth" and "our consensus is that the two militaries need to work together to contribute to the overall relationship between China and India."

Chinese President and PM Modi met four times in 2018 starting with Wuhan informal summit followed by meetings on the sidelines of Shanghai cooperation organisation (SCO), BRICS and G20 Summit. President Xi Jinping will be visiting India this year for the second Informal Summit. Wei Fenghe had visited India last year and met officials including the then Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Optimistic about the ties, Fenghe said, "Both sides committed for a cooperative and stable relationship between the two sides. The momentum of a relationship, it is getting better and better and we are making active efforts to further grow this bilateral relationship."

India and China held a Joint Exercise “Hand-in-Hand” in Pujiang, China from 10 to 23 December 2018 in which 130 personnel from each side participated.