India, China stress on stepping up counterterrorism efforts

Panaji (Goa) [India], Oct. 15 (ANI): Recognising terrorism as a key issue, India and China on Saturday expressed their desire to strengthen security dialogue and partnership and stressed on maintaining strategic communication and dialogue on the subject. Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that terrorism and violent extremism were on the increase, and at the same time he alluded to the threat from ISIL, saying India and China must step up their counterterrorism efforts. Holding bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit here, Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted, "No country is immune from terrorism, hence, this is an issue on which we cannot afford to have any differences." Briefing journalists on the bilateral meeting between the two leaders, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, "Both sides recognised terrorism as a key issue. President Xi said we should strengthen our security dialogue and our partnership." "Presidency agreed that terrorism and violent extremism were on the increase. He alluded to the threat from ISIL and says India and China must step up their counterterrorism efforts," said Swarup. However, Prime Minister Modi said both India and China had been victims of terrorism, which was a scourge inflicting the entire region. "Afghanistan was suffering from it as also Myanmar; presidency has just returned from Bangladesh, which had also suffered from a horrific terror attack recently. Today, no country is immune from terrorism, hence, this is an issue on which we cannot afford to have any differences," Swarup quoted the Prime Minister as saying. The Prime Minister, in particular, said India and China must increase their coordination in the context of the United Nations' 1276 Committee and look for common ground. The Prime Minister also called for the development of a long-term roadmap, which would be beneficial to not just for India and China but for all the countries, said Swarup. The Chinese President said, "We must maintain our strategic communication and dialogue on the subject." President Xi, meanwhile, also called for increased cooperation in areas such as railways, industrial parks, vocational and skill training, space aviation and ICG. (ANI)