After Obama's Visit, India's China Focus: Sushma Swaraj Proposes Measures to Build Ties With Beijing

Beijing/New Delhi: 

Days after India and United States realised a joint strategic document that irked China, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj who is in Beijing, has spoken on how India-China ties are expanding and suggested a six-point template to broad base engagement between the two countries.

Ms Swaraj is in China on a four-day visit and is accompanied by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar.

Addressing a media forum, Ms Swaraj proposed the two countries should follow action oriented approach, broad base bilateral engagement, convergence of common, regional and global interests, develop new areas of cooperation, expand strategic communication and fulfill common aspirations to usher in an "Asian century".

Analysts say that Ms Swaraj's visit to Beijing, which comes just about a week after US President Barack Obama's visit to India, is being seen as an attempt to soothe Chinese nerves; Mr Obama's visit was seen as the forging of a new alliance in the Asia Pacific region aimed at China.

In her speech, Ms Swaraj talked about PM Modi's engagement with the Chinese leadership since taking office, saying the new momentum in ties would be accelerated.

"We will make it easier for Chinese companies to do business in India and expect that similar encouragement would be given to our companies to expand their business in China," the Foreign Minister said.

On the defence relations between the two countries, Ms Swaraj said "We have made considerable progress in establishing and expanding defence contacts and exchanges including across our border."

"They contribute to the maintenance of peace and tranquillity there, a pre-requisite for the further development of our relationship. On the boundary question, my government is committed to expanding an early settlement," she said.

Stating that the ties have grown beyond bilateral dimension, Ms Swaraj said the two countries now are parts of multilateral bodies like BRICS and BASIC (a regional bloc of Brazil, South Africa, India and China).

The minister said she will be attending the Russia, India, China Foreign Ministers meet tomorrow.