Modi takes a selfie along with Chinese Premier Li and children during the Taiji and Yoga event in Beijing.

IANS/Beijing

India and China agreed to pursue an “early settlement” of the vexed border issue, including “actively seeking a political settlement”, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Premier Li Keqiang here yesterday, the second day of his China visit that saw both sides ink 24 agreements.
Modi called for a resolution of the boundary issue in a manner that “transforms the relationship” and does “not cause new disruptions”, during a talk at the Tsinghua University.
Modi reiterated his call for clarifications on the 4,000-km Line of Actual Control, saying it could be done “without prejudice” to either side’s position on the disputed boundary question.
In a reference to terrorism, Modi said the spreading tide of extremism and terrorism was a threat to both the nations. “We both face instability in our shared neighbourhood that can threaten our security and slow down our economies,” he said while addressing the students.
During his media address after talks with Li, Modi said he has “stressed the need for China to reconsider its approach on some of the issues that hold us back from realising the full potential of our partnership. I suggested that China should take a strategic and long term view of our relations” and added that he found the Chinese leadership “responsive”.
A joint statement issued after the talks said the two sides “will resolve outstanding differences, including the boundary question, in a proactive manner”. It said their differences “should not be allowed to come in the way of continued development” of bilateral relations. Peace and tranquility on the India-China border was recognised as an important guarantor for the development and continued growth of bilateral relations, the statement said.
Later in the day, Modi left for Shanghai where he is scheduled to address CEOs of Chinese companies today morning. He is also expected to address another business meeting and sign some business-related agreements.
Earlier, both sides agreed to enhance exchanges between the border commanders, and establish border personnel meeting points at all sectors of the India-China border areas.
Modi, who is known to have raised the issue of the China-Pakistan economic corridor that cuts through Pakistan-administered Kashmir with both Premier Li and President Xi Jinping as also Beijing’s $46bn investment in Pakistan, referred to the issue only obliquely in his talk at Tsinghua University.
He said with both countries increasing their engagement in the shared neighbourhood, it “calls for deeper strategic communication to build mutual trust and confidence”.
Modi said that both nations should ensure that their ties with other countries “do not become a source of concern for each other”.
In another oblique reference - to China resisting India’s membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)- Modi said that both countries are independent and neither “can be contained or become part of anyone’s plans”.
“China’s support for India’s permanent membership of a reformed UN Security Council, and for India’s membership of export control regimes like Nuclear Suppliers Group will do more than just strengthen our international co-operation,” Modi said.
Pakistan has objected to India’s membership of the NSG, a 48-nation body that ensures that civilian trade in nuclear materials is not diverted for military purposes.

Selfie diplomacy proves an instant hit
“It’s selfie time!” exclaimed the tweet from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But it wasn’t any normal selfie, because the mobile phone self-portrait wasn’t just of him, but included his Chinese counterpart, Li Keqiang. The snap came following a meeting during Modi’s ongoing trip to China. The men leaned against each other and smiled for the shot yesterday, in a rare show of bonhomie between the giant Asian neighbours with often frosty ties. The photograph was an instant hit on Facebook, receiving more than 282,000 likes, including one from the site’s founder, Mark Zuckerberg, within hours. Modi, who is on a three-day visit to China to discuss a festering boundary dispute, is known for his love for the photo format, having taken selfies on his tours abroad with leaders like Australia’s Tony Abbott. But it is rather rare for Beijing’s reserved leaders to appear in selfies. China also has strong censorship apparatus that wipes off personal references to politicians from the Internet.