New Delhi: Strong leaderships in India and China opens up possibilities to find a solution to the vexed boundary dispute and bilateral relations are set to see an "orbital jump", National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said here yesterday.
Talking to the Indian media after his wide ranging talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, State Councillor Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Doval said that border issues between the two countries will be discussed during Xi's visit to India next week.
"Important leaders will discuss important things," he said.
Asked about the perception that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi, who are considered strong leaders by virtue of their mandate, could clinch a deal to end the dispute, he said "these are two powerful and very popular very decisive leaders".
"Whether it opens possibilities, yes. Whether it leads to solutions, nobody can be sure because that does not necessarily mean that it is only dependent on single factor," he said.
"Definitely they are serious leaders. They like to make serious efforts. Both had the mandate in party and parliament besides sufficient time ahead of them. I am very hopeful that India-China relationship will make an orbital jump under the leadership of these two powerful leaders," he said.
India asserts that the border dispute covered nearly 4,057-km long Line of Actual Control, while China claims that it is confined to about 2,000 kms to the area of Arunachal Pradesh, which it refers to as Southern Tibet.
China and India have held 17 rounds of talks of their Special Representatives to resolve the boundary dispute.
The two sides reached a stage to focus on the framework to resolve the dispute. The next stage was stated to be exchange of maps about the mutual perception of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Both countries signed the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) last year to ensure peace and tranquillity on the LAC pending the settlement of the dispute.
On his first independent visit abroad after he took over as NSA, Doval said he has come to China as Special Envoy of Modi to invite Xi to India as well as to interact with the Chinese leadership on various issues.
He said Xi was impressed by Modi's decisive leadership qualities when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
"Modi too had positive impressions about Xi. More importantly Xi had very very laudatory things to say about Modi at the Fortaleza meeting," he said referring to Xi and Modi's first meeting in July on the sidelines of BRICS summit.
Xi is highly appreciative of Modi as a mass mobiliser also as a self-made man who could relate to the people, Doval said.
Xi was impressed by success of the Gujarat model as Chinese investors had told him how Modi has taken quick decisions and executed them, Doval said.
"Even today Xi said very loudly that he was looking forward to meet him (Modi) as he is an outstanding leader and has great hopes and expectation. He has very positive words to speak about Modi and considers it as a great opportunity and is proud and happy to go there," he said.
Officials said Xi will start his visit to India with a trip to Gujarat on September 17 where Modi is expected to host him.
Doval said Xi and Modi feel they can work together to make an Asian century.
India and China are two important players, whether they are together, indifferent or in conflict, he said.
"Good relations will contribute to regional stability and stable world order by working in tandem," he said.
Wide ranging visits between the two countries in the 100 days of the Modi government, which included Chinese Foreign Minister's visit followed by Vice President Hamid Ansari, the then Army General Chief Bikram Singh, and Xi and Modi's meeting in Brazil as well two visits by Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman showed the dynamics of the relationship, Doval said.
Now Xi is going to visit India and it shows certain amount of a critical mass and certain velocity along with it, Doval said.
"That gives an impression that we consider it important and we are giving traction to that importance," he said.
"We are walking the talk," he said referring to his current visit to China.
"When things are moving in a particular direction it is indicative of importance. Both countries give equal importance to it," he said.
Doval said the issue of a second opening for Kailash Manasarovar Yatra would figure in Modi-Xi talks.
"The Chinese side is actively considering. It is for them to make up their mind. For them to announce it, let us wait and watch. This will be one of the points on the agenda," he said.
