By Mubasshir Mushtaq
MUMBAI, India
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a three-day state visit to China, has said that he asked his northern neighbor to “reconsider its approach” on some bilateral issues.
Speaking to reporters on Friday in Beijing, Modi suggested that such obstacles were holding back the two giant Asian economies from realizing their full potential.
Modi, 64, said he suggested China take a "strategic and long-term view" of India-China relations.
"Our relationship has been complex in recent decades," Modi said, adding that he found the Chinese leadership "responsive".
Modi said that Asia's two largest economies have a historic responsibility to turn the India-China relationship into a "source of strength for each other and a force for good in the world".
The Indian leader held extensive discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang over a number of key issues, including a border dispute with China.
"On the boundary question, we agreed that we continue to explore a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution," he said, adding that both the countries are committed to maintaining peace and tranquility in the border region.
The frontiers of India's northern state of Arunachal Pradesh have been disputed since territory was annexed by China in the 1962 Sino-Indian war.
Modi also said that he raised the issue of the growing trade deficit between the two countries; India and China signed 24 bilateral agreements worth $10 billion.
India will establish a Centre for Gandhian and Indian Studies in Shanghai, a yoga college in Kunming as well as a bilateral Think-Tanks Forum.
