Beijing: China on Monday reacted guardedly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks of "expansionist" tendency among some countries, saying it is not clear what was he referring to and recalled his earlier comments that India and China are strategic partners.
"We have noted relevant information about Prime Minister Modi's visit to Japan. You just mentioned comments made by him I don't know what is he referring to," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a media briefing in Beijing when asked about Narendra Modi's remarks made during his ongoing visit to Japan.
"But I can answer the question by quoting his (Mr Modi's) words. He said China and India are strategic partners for common development. Good neighbourliness and cooperation between the two counties is of great significance to the prosperity of the whole world and all mankind," Qin recalled Prime Minister Modi's comments made on an earlier occasion.
PM Modi today deplored the "expansionist" tendency among some countries which "encroach" upon seas of others.
"We have to decide if we want to have 'vikas vaad' (development) or 'vistar vaad' (expansionism) which leads to disintegration. Those who follow the path of Buddha and have faith on 'vikas vaad', they develop. But we see, those having ideas of the 18th century, engage in encroachments and enter seas (of others)," PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister did not name any country but the comments may be seen as targeting China which is engaged in territorial disputes with a number of its neighbours, including India, Japan and some others including Vietnam.
Asked how China sees PM Modi's visit to Japan ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's proposed visit to New Delhi expected to be in the third week of this month, Qin said, "I want to stress that China and India are major countries. We both advocate and practice the five principles of peaceful coexistence."
"With regard to Xi's visit to India, during BRICS summit, President Xi had a good meeting with Prime Minister Modi," he said, adding that the two leaders agreed that Xi should visit India in the near future.
"The two sides are in close communication on the relevant issue," he said.
While Qin was cautious in his reaction, an article in the state-run Global Times' web edition said Modi attaches more importance to Sino-Indian ties considering China's strategic importance to India.
"The Modi administration apparently views Sino-Indian relations as more important than Indian-Japanese relations," the article said.
This is the second article in the ruling Communist Party-run newspaper, known for its usually nationalistic views, on Modi's Japan visit in as many days. The earlier article had criticised Japanese Prime Minister Shnzo Abe of trying to divide India and China.
The daily also claimed that Modi will not sign any deals in Japan to contain Beijing as he has to receive Chinese President in New Delhi later this month.
