Prime Minister Modi hopes that India and China can restore border peace through active engagement. (document)

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the situation on the India-China border needs to be urgently resolved to resolve the “abnormal” issues in bilateral interactions, insisting that the two countries share important relations.

In an interview with the US Newsweek, Prime Minister Modi said that stable India-China relations are important to the world.

The Indian Prime Minister said: “For India, relations with China are very important. I believe that we need to urgently resolve the long-term situation on the border between the two countries so that the irregularities in bilateral interactions can be left behind.”

He also hoped that the two neighboring countries could restore border peace through active engagement.

“Stable and peaceful relations between India and China are important not only for our two countries but for the entire region and the world. I hope and believe that through active and constructive bilateral engagement at the diplomatic and military levels, we will be able to restore peace and stability Maintaining peace and tranquility on our borders,” he told New York Magazine.

Read | China relations, Ram Mandir, role of media, Section 370: PM’s Newsweek interview

In 2020, India-China relations deteriorated sharply after the Chinese and Indian troops clashed in the high-altitude Galwan Valley in Ladakh. As many as 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the clashes, while China suffered an unknown number of casualties, triggering high-level diplomatic and military talks.

Prime Minister Modi also commented on India-Pakistan relations. Indo-Pak relations took a hit after the 2019 Pulwama attack killed 40 Indian soldiers and traced terrorists from abroad.

He said: “I congratulate the Prime Minister of Pakistan on taking office. India has always stood for promoting peace, security and prosperity in our region in an atmosphere free from terror and violence.”

Asked about the imprisonment of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, he declined to comment on the neighboring country’s internal affairs.