Modi said India wanted closer ties with China, including more investment, greater access to its markets and a shared commitment to ensure that their disagreements remained in check. While addressing students at Tsinghua University, he presented a broad argument for cooperation: Both China and India face extremist terrorism whose “source is in the same region,” and uncertainty about energy supplies.
Modi noted that the countries depend on the same sea lanes for international commerce, a point of sensitivity for China, which fears losing sea access for fuel imports in the event of hardening conflict with the United States or its allies. India and China remain sensitive to any perceived challenges to territorial claims and affronts to national pride. Before Mr. Modi’s visit, for example, Indian news outlets seized on a commentary in a popular Chinese tabloid, Global Times, that accused Mr. Modi of “playing little tricks over border disputes and security issues.”
India Honest observes that a clear view is derived from Modi's statement that he had opted for a considered limited objective through this visit against the aspiration of many at home of a high decimal big agreements on economic and border front. Yes in spite of many desirable specially a clear assurance on UN SC membership drive, the mood and timings were not favourable for a bigger demand with both the countries having tied with economic needs.
While a manufacturing and exporting giant China is worried on the downwards trend in its economy, India is worried on its adverse trade balance and at the same time needs Chinese investment in many sectors in India .And accordingly Modi courted the Chinese business and investment to shore up India’s economy and stressed on deepening the ties
Prime minister, Narendra Modi,in his first visit to Beijing told the China’s leaders in clear terms that it was up to them to rethink policies that he said had hindered cooperation between the Asian giants. Modi made the comments in Beijing after meeting with China’s premier, Li Keqiang, while unveiling the 24 agreements that both the leaders would help improve relations. and he added a proviso: that the Chinese government should consider India’s grievances.
He said,“We covered all issues, including those that trouble smooth development of our relations,I suggested that China should take a strategic and long-term view of our relations.”He added, “I found the Chinese leadership responsive.”
India Honest sees some great sense in the acknowledgement made by Hu Zhiyong, the author of the Global Times (most popular Chinese tabloid) commentary, who said, “We can’t have any hopes or expectations that Modi will make even the slightest concessions in negotiations with Chinese leaders on political and security matters.”.
While Peter Martin of APCO Worldwide echoed the same and said, “It’s clear that the Chinese government is going out of its way to demonstrate that it takes India and Narendra Modi in particular seriously, but the challenge, of course, is making such rhetoric seem credible when the border dispute dominates public debate, especially in India.”
India Honest agrees with the common view derived through this visit that in China Modi has been seen as having promoted himself as a vigorous defender of Indian security interests and with much higher international standing, while both people of India and China remain sensitive to any perceived challenges to territorial claims and affronts to national pride.
PM. Narendra Modi's contentions have included long-running border disputes, a heavy trade imbalance in China’s favour and India’s wariness toward China’s partnership with Pakistan, India’s rival. While China's worry remains with its conflicting role in the South China Sea, where India also has marked a strategic role for playing to safeguard joint interests of many littoral nations, including Vietnam and a close friend Japan.