Chinese foreign ministry condemns PM Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh

China's foreign ministry on Saturday condemned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the northeastern border state of Arunachal Pradesh, also claimed by China, saying it "resolutely opposes" activities of Indian leaders in the region.

Modi's visit was part of a series of public meetings in the region aimed at garnering support for his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party ahead on Indian elections that are due to be held by May.

Despite recent efforts to improve bilateral ties in both countries, disputes over the mountainous Indo-China border - which triggered a war in 1962 - and the region that China claims as southern Tibet have remained a sensitive issue.

"China urges the Indian side to proceed from the overall situation of bilateral relations, respect China's interests and concerns, cherish the momentum of improving relations between the two countries, and refrain from any actions that intensify disputes and complicate the border issue," the country's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Arunachal Pradesh...

A land associated with the rising Sun, brightness and a land that is home to courageous and warm-hearted people.

Happy to have been in Itanagar. Several projects were initiated that will transform lives of the people of the state. pic.twitter.com/tZ0LWY6XAm

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 9, 2019

On Saturday, India's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Both India and China have sought to rebuild trust after an armed standoff over a stretch of the Himalayan border in 2017.

Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met a number of times last year to give impetus to the trade discussions. But progress, according to Indian government officials and representatives of various Indian trade bodies, has been very slow.