Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui on Monday endorsed a proposal for cooperation between China, India and Pakistan under the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) even as he cautioned that ties between Beijing and New Delhi could not take the strain of another episode like last summer’s Doklam stand-off.
He was inaugurating a seminar on ‘Beyond Wuhan–How far and fast can China-India relations go’, jointly organised by the Institute of Chinese Studies, FICCI and some media organisations.
Later, responding to questions, Luo said, “Some Indian friends suggested that India, China and Pakistan may have some kind of trilateral summit on the sidelines of the SCO. I think it is very good and constructive idea. If China, Russia and Mongolia can have a trilateral summit, why can’t China, India and Pakistan?’’
Emphasising the need to find a ‘mutually acceptable solution’ to the boundary issue through a meeting of the Special Representatives, the Chinese envoy said. “The boundary question between our two countries was left over by history. We need to build on convergence to find a mutual acceptable solution through the Special Representatives’ meeting while adopting confidence building measures to maintain the peace and tranquillity along the border.’’ China and India, he said, were neighbours that could not be moved away.
Luo suggested what he called the “5Cs’’ proposal to promote China-India relations, namely communication, cooperation, contacts, coordination and control.
He said China would like to negotiate a regional trade arrangement with India to expand trade relations. “We may encourage economic cooperation on major projects such as new industrial parks and high-speed railway.’’
Against the backdrop of anti-globalisation and rising protectionism, China and India, as major emerging market economies, were faced with the pressure of established powers. “We should coordinate our positions and also explore ways to be with each other,’’ the envoy added.
He disclosed that the defence and public security ministers of China would visit India soon. Also, the Special Representatives (SRs) of the two countries on the boundary question would hold their meeting in Beijing later this year. The two foreign ministers would co-chair the first meeting of high-level people-to-people and cultural exchange mechanism.