‘India, China should rejig diplomatic strategy to improve ties'

BEIJING: India and China should rejig their diplomatic strategy to improve relations during the strategic dialogue next week, as economic ties which served as a buffer to alleviate frictions are getting weakened due to intense competition in markets, a report in the state-run media said.

“As competition grows the function of economic ties as a buffer to alleviate trade friction between the countries is weakened, which requires the two neighbours to deal with a complicated political situation more carefully,” an article in the state-run Global Times said today.

The article in the daily's website said the first India- China strategic dialogue is expected to be held on February 22 in Beijing and it would serve as a prime opportunity for the two countries to make a change in its diplomatic strategy.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar would lead the Indian delegation at the talks during which the two sides are expected to discuss steps to address increasingly tense ties due to differences over a host of issues including China blocking listing of JeM leader Masood Azhar as a terrorist and India's admission into Nuclear Suppliers Group. (AGENCIES)