China, India need to 'properly address' differences through dialogue: Chinese envoy

Asserting that Beijing and New Delhi need to "properly address" differences through dialogue, Chinese envoy to India Sun Weidong said on Thursday that it is necessary to go beyond the "mode of differences management" and focus on actively shaping the bilateral relations.

The Chinese ambassador also asserted that his country will never bully others, nor will it be bullied.

Addressing a gathering here to celebrate the 70th anniversary of New China, Sun said the rise of developing countries and emerging economies as a whole represented by China, India and other countries has dramatically changed the international landscape.

As the only two developing countries with more than 1 billion population, China-India relations go beyond the bilateral scope and has global significance, he said.

China and India have achieved national liberation and independence almost at the same time, jointly advocated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and supported each other in pursuing national development and rejuvenation, Sun said.

"Looking forward, China and India as major emerging countries need to actively explore ways to get along with each other. We need to view each other as positive factors in the changing world landscape, and regard each other as partners in realising our development dreams in a positive, open and inclusive manner," Sun said.

The two countries need to move under the guidance of the important consensus between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, continue to unleash the positive effects of the Wuhan informal summit, move in the right direction, transmit the leaders' consensus to all levels, and gather positive energy to promote the development of China-India relations, he said.

"We need to deepen practical cooperation in all fields, expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges and enhance mutual understanding and trust," the Chinese envoy said.

"We need to properly address differences through dialogue and consultation and expand consensus. It is necessary to go beyond the mode of differences management, focus on actively shaping the bilateral relations and jointly make the cake of cooperation even bigger," he said.

Noting that next year will mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and India, he quoted Mahatma Gandhi to say that an ounce of practice is worth a thousand words.

"Let's seize the opportunities, take concrete actions, march together on the path of pursuing the Chinese dream and building 'New India', and continue to promote a closer development partnership between China and India," he asserted.

The envoy also noted that China's 70th National Day will fall on October 1 this year, followed by the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2.

"Let's strive to build a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind, and create a better future for Asia and even for the world at large!" he said.

Sun said China rejects zero-sum games and opposes the winner-takes-all approach.

"We keep expanding the convergence of interests with other countries and make the pie of common interests even bigger," he said.

"We firmly pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, respect the right of all countries to independently choose their own path of development, and uphold international equity and justice. We oppose imposing one's own will on others, interfering in other countries' internal affairs, and bullying of the weak by the strong," he said.