China praises PM Modi's message on bilateral ties

China has welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assertion that India follows an independent foreign policy, with Beijing saying it “values” his remarks that New Delhi’s ties with China are not influenced by any third party. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Modi’s comments came during his latest meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, describing the talks as a reaffirmation of the growth in China-India relations.
Jiakun said the "most important consensus" from the meeting was that “China and India should be partners”, according to a release by China’s ministry of foreign affairs. Beijing also welcomed Modi’s remarks on India’s strategic autonomy. “Prime Minister Modi said that India has an independent foreign policy, developing relations with China is not affected by any third party and that it will not allow any force to engage in anti-China activities on its territory. China values Prime Minister Modi’s statements,” the statement said.
Guo said the New Delhi meeting was the third between Xi and Modi in three years and marked a “reaffirmation” of the growth of bilateral ties. He said the two leaders had guided relations from “starting afresh in Kazan” to making further improvements in Tianjin. The key consensus reached by the two sides, according to Guo, was that China and India should be “partners”. Xi stressed that China and India have different national realities and should draw on each other’s strengths, support one another and help each other succeed while pursuing common development.