China slams Modi’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh

China has slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, saying it was not helpful in creating “enabling conditions” for boundary talks and improvement of Beijing-New Delhi ties.Xinhua news agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang as saying on Thursday that China was “firmly opposed” to Mr. Modi’s visit to the “disputed area.”

“China’s position on the China-India boundary question is consistent and clear-cut,” Mr. Geng said.“The Chinese government has never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh and is firmly opposed to the Indian leader’s visit to the disputed area,” the spokesperson observed.

He added: “We will lodge stern representations with the Indian side.”

‘Important consensus reached’

Mr. Geng said that China and India had reached “important consensus” on properly managing disputes, and the two sides were working to resolve the territorial disputes through negotiation and consultation.“The Chinese side urges the Indian side to honour its commitment and abide by the relevant consensus, and refrain from taking any action that may complicate the boundary question.”He urged India to cherish “the hard-won momentum of improvements in bilateral relations and create enabling conditions for the boundary talks and the development of bilateral relations.”