India-China ties important for the whole world: PM Modi

Hangzhou [China], Sept. 4 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday told Chinese President Xi Jinping that the partnership between both nations is important for the region and also for the whole world. The Prime Minister's assertion came as the duo held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou City of China. During the talks, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the menace of terrorism, saying the recent attacks show how it is spreading across the world and is, therefore, a matter of grave concern. He also condemned the terrorist bomb attack at China's embassy in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek. The Chinese President on his part said Beijing is willing to work with India to maintain their hard-won sound relations. "China is willing to work with India to maintain their hard-won sound relations and further advance their cooperation," Xinhua quoted Xi as saying. The meeting between the two leaders is significant as it follows China's move to stall India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and bilateral differences over the proposed USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which runs through Pakistan occupied Kashmir besides Beijing blocking the UN move to ban Masood Azhar, chief of the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). Beijing too has raised concerns over the close ties between India and the US and the recently signed Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), which will enable the militaries of both democracies access to each other's facilities for supplies and repairs. This is first meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Jinping after their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit held in Uzbekistan capital Tashkent in June 23.(ANI)