Modi in China: Boundary issue must be resolved quickly

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India and China should solve the boundary dispute "quickly" if the two sides were to realise the true potential of their partnership.

"Yet, if we have to realise the extraordinary potential of our partnership, we must also address the issues that lead to hesitation and doubts, even distrust, in our relationship," Modi said while speaking at the Isinghua University here on the second day of his three-day visit to China.

"First, we must try to settle the boundary question quickly," he said.

"We both recognise that this is history's legacy. Resolving it is our shared responsibility to the future. We must move ahead with new purpose and determination."

He said that the solution to the biundary issue should be such that it should transform the relations between the two countries and not caue new disruptions.

Stating that the two sides "have been remarkably successful" in maintaining peace along the border, he said: "But, a shadow of uncertainty always hangs over the sensitive areas of the border region. It is because neither side knows where the Line of Actual Control is in these areas. That is why I have proposed resuming the process of clarifying it."

He highlighted how Asia would gain if India and China joined hands for economic development.

"China's success over the past three decades has changed the character of the global economy," Modi said.

"India is now the next frontier of the economic revolution."

With 800 million people in India below the age of 35 years, India has the demography for this revolution, the prime minister said.

"Their aspirations, energy, enterprise and skills will be the force for India's economic transformation."

He said his government has "taken sweeping steps to reform our policies and open up more to foreign direct investments".

"This includes new areas like insurance, construction, defence and railways," the prime minister said.

"We are scaling up investments in next generation infrastructure - roads, ports, railways, airports, telecom, digital networks and clean energy."

Modi said the agriculture sector in India was being revived to boost growth and retoree fortuns to the farmers.

"Like China, urban renewal is both a necessity and a means to add energy to our economy," he stated.

"We are combining traditional strategies with modern economic instruments to eliminate poverty and create security for the poor."

According to the prime minister, India and China reflect the same aspirations, challenges and opportunities.

"We can be inspired by each other's successes. And, in the global uncertainties of our times, we can reinforce each other's progress," he said.

At the beginning of his speech, Modi quoted an old Chinese saying he said he liked: "If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of 10 years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people."

He also spoke a few words in Mandarin drawing applause from the audience.

Modi arrived in Beijing from Xi'an on Thursday evening.

On Friday, he was accorded a ceremonial welcome by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

Following delegation-level talks between India and China, 24 agreements were signed by the two sides.

Tsinghua University is a research university located in Beijing and was established in 1911.