The fact that Chinese President Xi Jinping visited India after seven years and took part in a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “very important optics”, said former envoy to China Gautam Bambawale on Saturday, adding that the engagement will guide the two sides at official and ministerial levels on how to move ahead in mending ties.
The former ambassador to China said the meeting could pave the way for a strong outcome in the future.
So, I think this is one of the reasons why President Xi Jinping is in New Delhi today, and for some time tomorrow. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. The very fact that he’s here, I think the optics are definitely very, very important”. “I can see that both the United States, the major power, the United States on the one hand and China, on the other, are actually trying to woo India to be on their side or not to take the side of the other country.
Because of what happened in eastern Ladakh and Galwan, definitely, asked about optics on both sides, the former diplomat said, “The very fact that President Xi Jinping is in Delhi after a gap of seven years, and we know why that gap existed.
After their bilateral engagement, PM Modi stressed that “peace and tranquillity” in border areas are essential for both nations’ relations. The former ambassador to China said the meeting could pave the way for a strong outcome in the future. “So even if there are no great outcomes or takeaways right away, I think they will be followed up; this meeting will be followed up by further discussions among officials, perhaps at the ministerial level, which will then yield outcomes in the India-China relationship,” he said. And I think we have several cards to play in that respect,” he said.
