China President Xi's Visit: India to hold maritime dialogue with China this year

NEW DELHI: India and China today agreed to hold a maritime dialogue this year to exchange views on issues including cooperations between their maritime agencies and freedom of navigation.

The proposed discussion on freedom of navigation assumes significance as few years ago China had raised objections over the presence of Indian warships in the South China Sea, where it claims territorial sovereignty and New Delhi has been demanding that there should be no impediment on the movement of its vessels there.

"During the talks between the two countries, they agreed to hold the first round of maritime cooperation dialogue within this year to exchange views on maritime affairs and security, including anti-piracy, freedom of navigation and cooperation between maritime agencies of both countries," official sources said here.

In the anti-piracy operations, India and China have worked together in the Gulf of Aden to tackle the threat of the Somali pirates operating there and started coordinated patrols in the region to curb their activities.

India and China hold joint Army drills under the Hand-in-Hand series of exercises and have been discussing the possibility of holding maritime exercises in the near future.

Indian warships have been making port calls to Chinese cities but no formal exercise has been held so far between their navies or coast guards.

Xi said bilateral ties are at a "new starting point". "Neighbours may sometimes encounter problems. What is important for China and India is to face the boundary question and seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution at an early date through peaceful and friendly consultations," he said.

While the process is on, he said both countries should not focus attention only on differences and forget about friendship and cooperation.

He said if it happens, the differences will stand in the way of development and interfere with the overall growth of relations.

"I am confident that China and India have the ability and wisdom to embark on a path of good neighbourly relations between two major countries," he said.

Pointing out that China and India have a combined population of 2.5 billion, he said "if we speak in one voice the whole world will listen and if we join hands, the whole world will pay attention".

Xi said both countries ought to enhance strategic partnership on the economic front and in global affairs.

He stressed on the need for coordination in multi-lateral bodies and said China backs India's greater role at the UNSC.

"China and India need to enhance cooperation to tap into our mutually complimentary advantages. China's westward opening up should be geared to dovetail with India's Look East policy with a view to shaping the world's most competitive production bases, most attractive consumer markets and most powerful growth engines," he said.