China respects India on the basis of equality and the China-United States joint statement on South Asia did not target India, said Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao after a meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on the sidelines of the Copenhagen summit on Friday.
"Premier Wan made references to the joint statement issued between China and the United States following the visit of US President Barack Obama to China recently. He said that the formulation of the certain section of that joint statement relating to South Asia was not directed or targeted at India. China respects India on the basis of equality," said Rao during a special media briefing.
During a visit to China in November, Obama had stated that both countries had agreed to work together to bring stability to South Asia.
India responded aggressively to the statement and New Delhi made it clear that a third party role was not necessary to settle the India-Pakistan dispute.
Over relations between the two neighbours, Rao said that India and China agreed to maintain peace on their disputed border.
"The people of India want good relations with China. Pending the resolution of outstanding issues between the two countries, we should maintain peace and tranquility in our border areas. Wen also agreed that without the sustained development of India and China, the 21st century couldn't be an Asian century," said Rao.
