An outgoing Chinese envoy to India, Sun Weidong, has said that India and China need to respect each other’s political system and uphold the principle of non-interference in internal affairs.
In his farewell remarks posted on the Chinese embassy website on Tuesday, Sun said, “China and India are important neighbours… It is natural for China and India to have some differences. The main thing is how to handle differences.” We must know that the two countries’ common interests are more significant than differences.”
“Both countries need to respect each other’s political systems and development paths and uphold the principle of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs,” he said.
Emphasizing the need to enhance communication and cooperation, he said that China had optimized the visa application process for Indian nationals and resumed visa applications for students pursuing long-term studies and other purposes. “So far, more than 1,800 visas have been issued to Indian students, and we hope to see more and more exchange of visits between our peoples,” he said.
Noting that the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was successfully held, Sun said: “It became clear what banners the party would put up, what path it would take, what goals it wanted to achieve, and what it would do with them.” How will it be achieved? Com. Xi Jinping has been elected General Secretary… the call of the times, the choice of history and the people’s aspiration.”
Recalling taking over as the Chinese ambassador to India in July 2019, Sun said that he saw bilateral trade volume (US) between the two countries exceeding (US)$120 billion; during this period, China-India relations had increased and also experienced “ups and downs”. “I believe that, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of our two countries and with the joint efforts of both sides, bilateral relations will eventually clear the clouds and return to the right track,” he said in a veiled reference.
He also looked at the Quad and other Indo-Pacific strategies, saying, “If the Western principle of geopolitics is applied to China-India relations, then major neighbours like ours will inevitably endanger and rival each other.” as will see. As a result, competition and confrontation will be the primary mode of interaction, and zero-sum games will be an inevitable outcome … we must break out of the ‘trap of geopolitics’ and find a new path that is different from the past.”
Underlining that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached a strong consensus, Sun said: “There is enough room in the world for China and India to develop side-by-side. I believe that The reason for the China-India friendship is correct and has vast potential. Let us look up at the blue sky, keep our feet on the ground, and have faith in our hearts, the direction in our eyes and warmth in our hands. With the joint efforts of both sides, we can put China-India relations back on the right track.
