China backs Jaishankar's 'Asian century' remark

China on Friday concurred with external affairs minister S Jaishankar's observation that an "Asian century" cannot happen if India and China don't join hands and emphasised that the two neighbours have "far more common interests than differences".

Beijing: Answering questions after delivering a lecture on "India's vision of the Indo-Pacific" at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University on Thursday, Jaishankar said India-China ties were in an "extremely difficult phase" after what Beijing had done at the border and emphasised that the "Asian century" would not happen if the two neighbours don't join hands.

Reacting to Jaishankar's comments, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told journalists here that "as a Chinese leader put it, 'unless China and India are developed, there will be no Asian century. No genuine Asia-Pacific century or Asian century can come until China, India and other neighbouring countries are developed"." Wang further said, "Both sides have the wisdom and capability to help each other succeed."

'China, India not each other's threats, but co-op partners'

Beijing: Concurring with the external affairs minister S Jaishankar's observation that an "Asian century" would not happen if the two neighbours do not join their hands, the Chinese foreign ministry said the two countries have more common interests than differences.