Don't be jealous over India-China ties, Chinese daily tells US

Li Keqiang today said China views India as an important partner and it would do nothing to harm New Delhi's interests

As Chinese Premier Li Keqiang made a "successful" visit to India despite recent border stand off, an influential state-run daily here took a dig at US saying Washington should not feel "jealous" over close Sino-Indian ties.

The ruling Communist Party's mouthpiece 'People's Daily' also said India would not harm its ties with China to further US' strategic interests.

"Li Keqiang's India visit will promote the two countries strategic partnership to a large extent. But the United States should not be jealous, because China and India do not want to be its enemy; they just hope to cooperate with it," the Daily said.

Outlining India-China economic development, it said "even the United States cannot ignore China and India's influence in international affairs. The two highly complementary economies are quickly developing their economic and trade cooperation."

"Because of the boundary problems between the two countries, some conflicts do exist between them. But the leaders of the two countries have not been misled by American and Japanese right wing forces. India will not harm the relationship with China just for the sake of realising certain countries' strategic interests," it said.

It said Li's first visit abroad to India and Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia earlier were part of China's efforts in the new diplomatic situation to promote new patterns of relationship between great powers.

"China and India voice a harmonious theme in foreign affairs. The two countries are the co-founders of the 'Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence', which shows similar stance of the two countries in diplomatic sector," it said.

"China has been adhering to an independent foreign policy of peace; India has been pursuing the nonalignment policy. The purpose of the both countries is to safeguard sovereignty and independence," it said.

Noting that China and India are the important members of G20 and BRICS, it said the two are in favour of practising democracy in international relations and advocate promoting world multipolarisation and abiding by international code, it said.