Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the relationship between India and China as a 'mature' one, adding that the two countries have learnt from history and are showing commitment towards economic cooperation.
On being asked by Time Magazine whether the two bordering nations could ever be friends, the Prime Minister said that not a single bullet had been fired on the borders for nearly three decades and the two sides currently have an extensive trade, investment and project related engagement.
"For nearly three decades there has been, by and large, peace and tranquility on the India-China border. Not a single bullet has been fired for over a quarter-century. Both countries are showing great maturity and a commitment to economic cooperation," the Time Magazine quoted the Indian Prime Minister as saying.
"Given the current economic situation in the world, we are at a stage where we cooperate with China at the international stage but we also compete with China when it comes to commerce and trade," he added.
Ahead of his visit to China on May 14, the Prime Minister said that the two countries share a relationship wherein they do not require a third entity to act as a catalyst between them.
"The India-China relationship should be such that to communicate with each other there should really not be a need for us to go through a third entity. That is the level of relationship that we currently have," he added.
Prime Minister Modi will visit China as part of his six-day, three nation tour. During his trip, he will be visiting Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an, before departing for Mongolia.
