China to expand counter-terror cooperation with India:Official

China today said it will expand cooperation with India to combat terrorism at the UN and other international fora, a day after President Pranab Mukherjee raised the issue of Beijing blocking New Delhi's move to get Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar blacklisted by the UN.
Describing Mukherjee's four-day state visit as "very successful and fruitful", Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, the two sides have "agreed to carry forward our fine traditions, deepen practical cooperationand elevate bilateral relations."
"The two sides will expand bilateral cooperation in counter-terrorism. Terrorism is our common enemy. We will continue to enhance our counter-terrorism efforts under the UN, the BRICS and other frameworks to jointly maintain regional peace and stability," Hua said when asked about the outcome of Mukherjee's visit and whether China supports India's move in the UN to ban JeM chief Azhar.

During his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday, Mukherjee sought China's cooperation in international fora like the UN in the fight against terrorism stating that there was "no good or bad terrorists".
"As for specific outcomes, the two sides agreed to maintain high-level exchanges to better top level design and put in place improved mechanisms," Hua said.
Hua also said both sides will "properly manage and control our disputes, so that these disputes willnot stand in the way of our practical cooperation".

"Wewill continue to make full use of the special representatives meeting on border question to maintain border peace and tranquility," she said.

India and China held 19th round of Special Representatives talks last month to resolve the disputes over 3488-km long Line of Actual Control (LAC).
China claims Arunachal Pradesh as Southern Tibet and India asserts that the dispute covered Aksai Chin area which was occupied by China during 1962 war.
Hua said China and India will support each other on regional and international occasions by joining their voices together on the international stage.
She spoke of more "balanced" bilateral trade as India has expressed serious concerns over USD 48 billion deficit in about USD 70 billion annual trade in China's favour.

India is seeking big ticket investments from China in India to generate more trade to offset the trade deficit.
"In practical cooperation we will enhance our cooperation in industrial zones, construction and build more sister cities. The two sides will also enhance cooperation in investment, tourism and more. We will try to move forward our two way trade in more balanced way through cooperation," she said.
Earlier, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying in his meeting with Mukherjee that"the two sides should appropriately address our differences" and consolidate political trust by maintaining strategic communications between the top leaders.