PM Narendra Modi makes India's concern clear to Xi Jinping; aims at getting China to pressure Pakistan

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised issues such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor passing through Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and India’s entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, officials said.

During Sunday’s 35-minutes interaction with the Chinese leader ahead of the G-20 Summit in Hangzhou, the PM raised India’s concerns over the menace of terror in the region, much of which originates from Pakistan, Beijing’s all weather ally, the officials said. The meeting was the second in less than three months. Modi’s remarks on the economic corridor comes in the backdrop of the government’s stand on undivided J&K and the human rights situation in Balochistan.

Modi on Sunday emphasised the necessity to address the root causes of terrorism emanating from the neighbourhood, leaving little doubt that his message was aimed at getting China to pressure Pakistan rather than blocking a UN ban against Jaish chief Masood Azhar.

Meanwhile, state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua quoted Xi as saying: “China is willing to work with India to maintain their hard won sound relations and further advance their cooperation.”

While officials said specific issues were not discussed in detail, the idea was to convey a clear message on the way forward for ties and having more sensitivity towards each other’s core concerns. Foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup, briefing media after the Modi-Xi meeting, declined to specify if the NSG issue was raised with Xi, pointing out that a summit-level meeting was aimed “to provide overall guidance and direction” to India-China relations.