PM Modi In Newsweek Interview: Ties With China Important, Border Situation Needs To Be Addressed Urgently

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the situation on the India-China border must be urgently addressed and that New Delhi values its relationship with Beijing as “important and significant”.

In an interview with US-based magazine Newsweek published on Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi said matters between the neighbouring nations related to their borders must be resolved, hoping for constructive bilateral engagements. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also became the first Indian PM to be on Newsweek cover after former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

“For India, the relationship with China is important and significant. It is my belief that we need to urgently address the prolonged situation on our borders so that the abnormality in our bilateral interactions can be put behind us,” PM Modi said. He added that stable and peaceful relations between the neighbours are important for the world and the entire region.

“I hope and believe that through positive and constructive bilateral engagement at the diplomatic and military levels, we will be able to restore and sustain peace and tranquillity in our borders,” he said.

Ties between India and China took a significant hit following a deadly clash in Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in more than four decades.

On China Competition

The US-China trade war and the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have significantly impacted global supply chains. Manufacturers worldwide are now compelled to review and reconfigure their supply chain strategies. These challenges have highlighted the risks associated with over-reliance on a single country or region for sourcing materials or components.

PM Modi told Newsweek that India “is a perfect destination for those who want to set up trusted and resilient supply chains”.

“We have major global manufacturing entities setting up shops in India. We have initiated Production Linked Incentive schemes to strengthen manufacturing capabilities in India.

These PLI schemes extend to 14 sectors such as electronics, solar modules, medical devices, automobiles, among others. Given our strengths, India is now globally considered most suited for manufacturing world-class goods at competitive cost,” PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister said the government has taken transformative economic reforms by introducing the goods and services tax (GST), corporate tax reduction, bankruptcy code, reforms in labour laws and relaxation in FDI norms.

“We have made significant improvements in ease of doing business. We are striving to make our regulatory framework, our taxation practices as well as our infrastructure at par with global standards.

We believe that when a country with one sixth of the world’s population adopts global standards in these sectors, it will have a big positive impact on the world,” PM Modi said.

On Pakistan

Speaking on bilateral relations with another neighbour, Pakistan, PM Modi said he congratulated Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after the latter took over office. He said that India has been a staunch supporter of security and prosperity in the region in a peaceful atmosphere.

“I have congratulated the Prime Minister of Pakistan on taking over office. India has always advocated for advancing peace, security and prosperity in our region in an atmosphere free from terror and violence,” PM Modi said.