China submits four-point plan to improve Sino-India ties

China has proposed a four-point plan to overcome differences and improve its relations with India, according to Indian state news agency PTI.

The offer, which includes collaboration between China’s ‘One Belt One Road’ project and India’s ‘Act East Policy’ as well as resumption of negotiations for a free trade agreement, was put forward by Chinese envoy Luo Zhaohui on Friday.

The text of the closed-door address was made available to the media on Monday.

“Firstly, start negotiation on a China-India Treaty of Good Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation. Secondly, restart negotiation of China-India Free Trade Agreement. Thirdly, strive for an early harvest on the border issue. Fourthly, actively explore the feasibility of aligning China’s ‘One Belt One Road Initiative’ (OBOR) and India’s ‘Act East Policy’,” he said.

China also offered to mediate conflicts between Pakistan and India.

“Otherwise, how could we open up and develop?” said Luo. “That’s why we say, we are willing to mediate when India and Pakistan have problems. But the precondition is that both India and Pakistan accept it. We do this only out of goodwill.”

Regional connectivity and ‘One Belt One Road’ could open up new opportunities for India and China, said the Chinese envoy.

“It is a strategic initiative aimed at promoting globalisation and economic integration.”

Luo also played down reports of the rivalry between the two Asian giants.

“Some people in the West misread China and tend to think that the ‘Dragon’ and the ‘Elephant’ are inevitable rivals, and that China would not like to see India developing,” he said. “This conception is wrong. We hope to see India develop well and we are more than happy to help India develop to achieve common development.”

China also pledged to fight against terrorism alongside the international community.