Chinese PM Calls Up Modi, Offers ‘Robust Partnership’

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called up Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed his government’s desire to establish a ‘robust partnership’ with India. Modi, too, expressed his ‘keenness’ to work together on ‘outstanding issues.’

Li is the first foreign leader to call up Modi after his swearing-in and both of them talked for about 25 minutes. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi will come to Delhi on June 8.

Commenting on the discussion, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “The Chinese leader congratulated Modi on his victory in the recent general elections and conveyed the Chinese government’s desire to establish robust partnership with the new government of India for further development of relations between the two nations.”

Modi noted that China “was always a priority” in India’s foreign policy and welcomed “a greater economic engagement” between the two countries. “He emphasised on his government’s resolve to utilise the full potential of our strategic and co-operative partnership with China and his keenness to work closely with the Chinese leadership to deal with any outstanding issue in bilateral relations by proceeding from the strategic perspective of our developmental goals and long-term benefits to our people,” the ministry said.