China, India have left Doklam behind: Ma Zhanwu

China and India have both put the Doklam stand-off episode behind them and are now working to “take forward” their relationship, China’s Consul General in Kolkata, Ma Zhanwu said. Ma said that the relationship can be enhanced with cooperation and exchanges. 

“India and China are working together. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping met on September 5 to discuss how to enhance the relationship,” Ma said on Friday night, while addressing an event to mark the 68th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. “As long as the two countries work together, we will able to enhance and develop exchanges and cooperation,” he said.

For 10 weeks, Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a stand-off in the Doklam area of Sikkim sector. The stand-off began in June after the Indian Army objected to and stalled road construction activity by the Chinese Army in the area, which is part of the Doklam plateau at the tri-junction of India, Bhutan, and China. The standoff ended on August 28 after both countries mutually agreed to de-escalate tensions. 

The Consul General also said that the two countries are now working to take the bilateral relationship forward. Just a week after the standoff ended, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 9th BRICS Summit on September 5. The two leaders agreed that more effort should be put in to strengthen cooperation between the security personnel and avoid Doklam-like incidents.

The doklam rift

India and China were engaged in a standoff in the Doklam area of Sikkim. 
Stand-off ended in August after both agreed to de-escalate tensions.