China, India learnt from history, says Narendra Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said India and China have “learnt from history” in dealing with their border dispute and asserted that bilateral ties have reached a stage where they can cooperate at a global level while competing in commerce and trade.

Ahead of his visit to China next week, Mr Modi in an interview to TIME magazine, was quoted by news agencies as having said, “There is by and large peace and tranquillity on the India-China border. It is not a volatile border. Not a single bullet has been fired for over a quarter of a century now. This essentially goes to prove that both countries have learnt from history,” said Mr Modi, who will embark on a three-day visit to China on May 14.

Mr Modi will be hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the city of Xian, the capital of the Chinese leader’s home province.

The leaders will have an informal dialogue on a host of issues before settling for talks on May 15 in Beijing.

Besides Mr Xi, Mr Modi will hold talks with Premier Li Keqiang and chairman of the China’s legislature, the National People’s Congress.

Talking about the vexed border dispute, Mr Modi told the US-based magazine, “In so far as the India-China relationship is concerned specifically, it is true that there is a long border between India and China and a large part of it is disputed. Still, I think both countries have shown great maturity in the last couple of decades to ensure and commit to economic cooperation which has continued to grow over the last 20 to 30 years to a stage where we currently have an extensive trade, investment and project-related engagement between the two countries,” he said.

Mr Modi said given the current economic situation in the world, the two countries are at a stage where “we cooperate with China at the international stage but we also compete with China when it comes to commerce and trade.”

Asked about China increasing its assertiveness and influence on the world stage, including in the South Asia, the Prime Minister said it was a “very natural” tendency for nations to increase their influence in the international space.

“I think it is a very natural tendency for the nations to increase their influence in the international space, as they pursue their international relations with different countries,” the PM said.

“I firmly believe that with due regard to international rules and regulations, and with full respect for human values, I think with these two perspectives in mind each country has the right to increase its presence, its impact and influence internationally for the benefit of the global community,” he said.