India and China have achieved “remarkable” development over the past few decades due to their “hard work” rather than the “generosity” of others, Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong said, rejecting claims that outside powers have fueled Beijing’s economic rise.
Xu’s remarks are largely seen as a rebuttal to recent remarks by US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who called past US economic support to China a “mistake” that Washington will avoid repeating with Delhi, news agency PTI reported on March 27.
Speaking at an event without naming any country, the Chinese ambassador said in a thinly veiled statement that some elements do not want to see China and India living in harmony and are “promoting” the “so-called Chinese threat” in the hope of cashing in on the “discord”.
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“In recent decades, both China and India have achieved remarkable development. These achievements are built on the hard work and wisdom of our own people, supported by global cooperation, and are in no way the result of the generosity of others,” the envoy said.
Xu spoke at the 14th China-India Youth Dialogue.
What did Landau say?
Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi earlier this month, Landau said the US would not repeat the mistake of giving India the same type of economic benefits it has given China, which helped Beijing become a key US competitor.
Xu said India and China should achieve development through their own efforts while actively pursuing mutually beneficial cooperation and supporting each other’s success.
“China and India are neighbors that cannot be separated. It should be the right choice for both sides to be good neighbors, friends and partners to help each other succeed and realize the dragon-elephant tango,” he said.
“However, some people are not willing to see China and India live in harmony. They are deliberately amplifying our differences, promoting the so-called ‘Chinese threat’ and hoping to profit from the disagreements between our two countries,” Xu said.
“In a complex and changing landscape, young people should think for themselves and step out of the ‘information cocoon,'” he said.
The ambassador said as the world’s two largest developing countries and major emerging economies, Sino-Indian relations they have “beyond” bilateral scope and are of important global and strategic importance.
“Since the meetings between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kazan and Tianjin, China-India relations have moved from a ‘reset and new beginning’ to a new level of improvement with positive progress in exchanges and cooperation in various fields,” he said.
“Going forward, the development of Sino-Indian relations requires not only the strategic guidance of our leaders, but also mutual understanding and affinity between our peoples,” he said.
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Xu also argued that India and China should strengthen communication and coordination and jointly protect the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.
China and India should achieve development through their own efforts while actively pursuing mutually beneficial cooperation.
“As important members of the Global South, China and India should strengthen communication and coordination, jointly protect the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, and lead the Global South to greater development,” he said.
(With input from agencies)
