Latest news with #XuFeihong
Russia Today
18 hours ago
- Business
- Russia Today
China optimistic on diplomatic relations with India
Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong has expressed optimism for strong diplomatic relations between the two nations. Speaking to reporters on Sunday in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, Xu noted that the millennia of shared history between the two nations brings them beyond simple neighbourly relations. 'China and India have been civilisations for so long. We have such close cultural and historical interactions. So, why shouldn't we have good relations in the coming years,' Xu said. Though tensions and mistrust remain, he emphasized that genuine progress necessitates more than high-level diplomacy. 'It's not only up to the governments,' he was quoted by the Times of India as saying. Ambassador Xu's statements come against the backdrop of Beijing's recent overtures to New Delhi, to open up economic and people-to-people relations. The Asian giants have made efforts to reset ties Oover the last year, after the 2020 Galwan Valley clash along their disputed Himalayan border, in which soldiers from both sides were killed. After extended military and diplomatic discussions, New Delhi and Beijing announced in October last year that they had reached an agreement on disengagement from areas of tension and would work towards normalizing their relations. The announcement was made on the eve of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, where Chinese President Xi Jingping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a comprehensive bilateral meeting, marking their first such engagement in almost five years. In Kolkata on Sunday, Xu emphasized the importance of various groups, including think-tanks, universities, and students, as well as ordinary citizens from both sides, in fostering a positive relationship. He also highlighted the crucial understanding between Xi and Modi, which focuses on strengthening ties and keeping lines of communication open. VIDEO | Xu Feihong (@China_Amb_India), Chinese Ambassador to India, says, "China and India have been so long civilisations. We have so close cultural and historical interactions. So, why shouldn't we have good relations in the coming years? Of course, a lot of work needs to be… In April, Xi pointed out that China and India are both ancient civilizations, major developing countries, and key members of the Global South, with both currently at a crucial stage in their modernization efforts. As a step towards the normalization of relations, Indian pilgrims will be allowed to visit a pilgrimage sites of religious significance to Hindus, Jains and Buddhists at Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet, after a gap of five years. Beijing has also called on New Delhi to restart direct flights between mainland India and China, as well as to ease visa procedures for Chinese nationals.
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First Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Chinese envoy hopes for ‘better and better' ties with India, cites millennia-old civilisational links
Asserting that both China and India have thousands of years of civilisation, Chinese ambassador Xu Feihong on Sunday expressed hope that the relationship between the two countries will be 'better and better' in the future. read more Chinese ambassador Xu Feihong on Sunday expressed hope that the relationship between the two countries will be 'better and better' in the future, asserting that both China and India have thousands of years of civilisation. Speaking at an event in Kolkata, Xu highlighted the long history of engagement between the two nations, noting that for most of their thousands of years of civilisation, India and China maintained close and friendly ties. When asked about the ongoing border tensions, Xu referenced remarks made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had noted that periods of discord were brief compared to the broader arc of bilateral history. 'We should look forward, look to the future — especially the young people today,' Xu said, calling for a forward-looking approach to bilateral ties. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The envoy's comments come amid efforts by both countries to manage lingering disputes and stabilise diplomatic relations. Praising the Indian students awarded at the function, he said the young generation is the hope of the two countries. 'So we should believe that in the future our relationships will be better and better,' he said. 'So we have the reason to solve all the differences between our two sides,' he said when asked whether that would include resolving the border issues. Stating that a lot of work should be done by both sides, the ambassador said 'not only (by) the government, but (by) the think tanks, the students and universities'. Feihong said PM Modi and President XI Jinping had made a 'very important consensus to together promote good neighbourly relationships between China and India'. 'I am expecting that new development will be taking shape in the coming time,' he said. Feihong also said he was hopeful that direct flights between the two countries would resume soon, which have remained suspended since 2020. Addressing the function, he said India-China relations were at a 'critical stage', noting that 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations. He said China will soon organise a youth exchange delegation from India to visit some Chinese cities, including capital Beijing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘I thank those who have expressed solidarity with us'
The Russian Embassy , along with the diplomatic missions of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, and Uzbekistan, recently hosted the Victory Day reception . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Featuring wartime compositions by the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Russian Navy's Northern Fleet, the evening saw External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar – chief guest at the event – express gratitude to nations that have stood in solidarity with India amid current tensions. Performers at the event Xu Feihong, Ambassador of China Askar Beshimov, Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan (second from left), with Mikhail Kasko, Ambassador of Belarus (middle) and Vahagn Afyan, Ambassador of Armenia (extreme right) 'WE MEET AT A TIME WHEN INDIA IS CONFRONTING THE CHALLENGE OF ' Hailing the event as 'an endorsement of our diplomatic endeavours be it bilateral, regional or multilateral', S Jaishankar said, 'It's a great pleasure to join you all on this occasion to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the war over fascism in 1945. It is hard to overstate the importance of such a momentous event. The contribution that Indians made to this defining event is wellknown... We also meet at a time when India is confronting the challenge of terrorism that is a shared threat to the international community. I thank those who have expressed solidarity with us and understand the resolute response that is underway. Friends, today is an occasion for hope and optimism as also for remembrance underpinned by the conviction that international cooperation is even more important than ever before.' 'WE HONOUR THE STRENGTH AND GALLANTRY OF OUR ALLIES' In his address, Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov noted the contribution of Indian soldiers and officers who fought alongside the allies. He said, 'I address you tonight not only in my own capacity but also on behalf of our fellow ambassadors with whom we cohost this solemn reception... It is the occasion to salute the courage, the endurance and the resourcefulness of all who fought and worked for the victory soldiers, sailors, doctors, nurses, farmers and everyone else. We honour the strength and gallantry of our allies who did so much to make the victory possible.'
Hindustan Times
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
China question facing India after Pahalgam
China's response to the rising tensions between India and Pakistan after the terror attack in Pahalgam is evolving in keeping with its interests. Since the Pahalgam terror strike, India has launched a diplomatic blitzkrieg, briefing global leaders. New Delhi began rallying world opinion, stating that it was in possession of intelligence that linked the Pahalgam perpetrators to Islamabad. To dispel notions of a Beijing-Islamabad nexus, China's ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, initially tweeted his condolences and urged to 'oppose all forms of terrorism' without naming any party a day after the attack. But sensing that Pakistan may get isolated, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi spoke to his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, on April 27, terming Pakistan as an 'all-weather' strategic cooperative partner. Islamabad has stated that it welcomed a transparent investigation into the matter, a line supported by Beijing. When the matter came to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Pakistan got a leg up from China in diluting the incident. The UNSC statement read that those responsible for the killings should be held accountable, and resolved to push for international cooperation with all relevant authorities. This is a significant deviation from the UNSC's position following the 2019 Pulwama attack that sought collaboration with the Indian government and relevant Pakistani authorities. Earlier in 2019, China teamed up with Pakistan to raise the Kashmir issue at the UNSC after India revoked the erstwhile state's special status. Beijing has also been instrumental in shielding the perpetrators of acts of terror committed on Indian soil. It has, in the past. blocked efforts to place Jaish-e-Mohammad's Rauf Asghar, Lashkar-e-Taiba's Sajid Mir and Abdur Rahman Makki on a UN sanctions list. Since the abrogation of Article 370, the border issue between India and China has been in constant focus. In 2020, tensions rose following Beijing's bid to unilaterally alter the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Following this, the issue of the contested border with China took centre stage while things were relatively peaceful with Pakistan. In October 2024, India and China finalised patrolling arrangements for friction points in Eastern Ladakh following which, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at the BRICS summit in Russia. A cautious normalisation is underway with the decks recently cleared for the Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage in Tibet to resume. High-level engagement has also resumed with restarting of the Special Representatives mechanism, which was mandated with ways to resolve the boundary question. Official statements refer to the China-Pakistan relationship obsequiously 'as higher than the Himalayas, deeper than the deepest ocean, and sweeter than honey'. Beyond such platitudes, nations act solely in supreme national interest. China's response to the Pahalgam terror strike is in steady contrast with its own stand on many issues. First, while Beijing launched crackdowns in the wake of terror strikes on the mainland, it has counselled New Delhi and Islamabad to exercise restraint and de-escalate tensions. While China backs Pakistan in seeking an independent investigation into the terrorist attack, it had hit back at Australia barring its imports after Canberra sought an international investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. Second, with India's attention now focused on the western border with Pakistan, China could exploit this situation to extract a better deal and terms of engagement along the LAC. Third, China would be hoping that relations between India and Pakistan further deteriorate, since any conflagration may leave New Delhi's military firepower depleted. This drained arsenal will further give it leverage in the ongoing LAC negotiations. The Pakistan-China axis can thus be described as a creeper-client relationship. For Pakistan, this symbiotic relationship may be a ticket out of instability and economic weakness. In turn, a Chinese general has appraised Pakistan's value in its scheme of things as 'China's Israel'. India's top military leadership has often warned about the possibility of a two-front war. India seeks a multipolar Asia, as the basis of a multipolar world. This is in contrast with China's construct of a multipolar world but a unipolar Asia. Beijing is thus incentivised to prop up Islamabad as a counter to New Delhi. Lastly, what will China's response to a military escalation between India and Pakistan be? In the 1971 and 1999 wars with India, Pakistan's hopes of China opening a front came to naught, the big question remains will Beijing have the bandwidth to come to Islamabad's aid at a time when it is bearing the brunt of US President Donald Trump's tariffs. Harsh V Pant is vice president, and Kalpit A Mankikar is fellow, China Studies, Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi. The views expressed are personal
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Will not engage in market dumping: Chinese envoy reassures India amid trade war with US
Beijing on Tuesday addressed concerns over potential flooding of cheap Chinese goods into other markets, reassuring India that it would not resort to such practices despite the ongoing trade war with the United States. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Beijing's ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, wrote in an opinion piece for The Indian Express that China is focusing on expanding domestic demand and boosting consumption. "China strictly complies with and market rules," Xu wrote. "We will not engage in market dumping or cutthroat competition, nor will we disrupt other countries' industries and economic development." Ever since US president Donald Trump took office in January, the world's two biggest economies have been at odds, slapping each other with retaliatory tariffs which have now reached more than a whopping 100%. The trade war has rattled global markets and fears that China may resort to diverting goods to other markets, affecting their competitiveness from other countries. To tackle this surge in cheap shipments, especially from China, India imposed a 12% temporary tariff on certain steel imports, Reuters reported. In recent years, Indian mills have been forced to scale down operations and ponder over job cuts due to a hike in Chinese steel imports to India. Since 2020, after a border clash between the two nations, India placed restrictions on China. However, the two nations are trying to mend their relationship since the past few months. Earlier, Chinese President Xi Jinping suggested to President Murmu that the two countries should enhance cooperation, as they marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Xu also said this month that China is willing to increase imports of Indian goods and deepen trade engagement with New Delhi.
