Arunachal CM welcomes India-China cooperation, says state could benefit from improved ties

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has welcomed the recent emphasis on cooperation between India and China following the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, saying improved bilateral relations could have significant implications for Arunachal Pradesh.

Khandu said Arunachal Pradesh shares a long border with China and could benefit from greater cooperation between the two neighbouring countries, particularly in areas such as connectivity, trade and people-to-people exchanges.

His remarks come after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12. The two leaders discussed improving bilateral relations, expanding economic and people-to-people ties and maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border.

The BRICS New Delhi Declaration also reaffirmed the member countries' commitment to cooperation, connectivity and mutually beneficial development.

Khandu said that with Arunachal Pradesh sharing a border of more than 1,200 km with China, any improvement in India-China relations could have relevance for the state's development.

The Chief Minister's comments come amid renewed diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Beijing, although the two countries continue to have unresolved issues concerning their boundary. India has maintained that peace and tranquillity in border areas remain essential for the broader development of bilateral relations.

India and China have also recently resumed senior military commander-level flag meetings in the eastern sector, including at Wacha in Arunachal Pradesh on September 6, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.