China Relationship Important And Significant For India, Says PM Modi

On India in a race with China with regard to building public infrastructure, PM Modi said a rising global power was a “natural choice” for those wanting to expand their supply chains and businesses.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

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New Delhi: Underscoring the importance of bilateral ties between India and China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said both countries need to address and settle all issues of contention arising out of the border dispute.

In an interview with Newsweek Magazine, PM Modi said “stable and peaceful” ties with China were not just in the interest of the two countries or region but the world.

“For India, the relationship with China is important and significant. It is my belief that we need to urgently address the prolonged situation on our borders so that the abnormality in our bilateral interactions can be put behind us,” he said.

“Stable and peaceful relations between India and China are important for not just our two countries but the entire region and world. I hope and believe that through positive and constructive bilateral engagement at the diplomatic and military levels, we will be able to restore and sustain peace and tranquillity in our borders,” PM Modi added.

On Competing With China

On India in a race with its eastern neighbour with regard to building public infrastructure and wooing global businesses to its shores, PM Modi said a rising global power was a “natural choice” for those wanting to expand their supply chains and businesses.

“India, as a democratic polity and global economic growth engine, is a natural choice for those looking to diversify their supply chains. We have undertaken transformative economic reforms: Goods and Service Tax, corporate tax reduction, bankruptcy code, reforms in labour laws, relaxation in FDI norms. As a result, we have made significant improvement in ease of doing business. We are striving to make our regulatory framework, our taxation practices as well as our infrastructure at par with global standards.”

He also spoke about the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes to boost manufacturing capabilities in India and said that these initiatives extend to 14 sectors, including electronics, solar modules, medical devices, automobiles.

“Given our strengths, India is now globally considered most suited for manufacturing world-class goods at competitive cost. Apart from producing for the world, the vast Indian domestic market is an added attraction. India is a perfect destination for those who want to set up trusted and resilient supply chains,” PM Modi said.

On Jammu And Kashmir After Abrogation Of Article 370

Weighing in on the criticism of his government over the revocation of certain constitutional privileges under Article 370 from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, PM Modi said now the people are “reaping the peace dividend” and the “process of development, good governance and empowerment of the people is to be seen to be believed.”

“Over 21 million tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir in 2023. There has been a significant decline in terror incidents. Organised protests, stone pelting, which once disrupted normal life, are now a thing of the past. A new dawn has also emerged for Kashmiri women, who now enjoy the same rights as their male counterparts. Post the revocation of Article 370, the region has become a welcoming destination for global events,” he said.

On Lok Sabha Elections

Asked about the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi said India has proved to be an exception, where people’s support for the government is seen to be increasing even at the end of its second consecutive term.

“By the end of the second term, even the most popular governments start losing support. Discontent toward governments has also increased in the last few years in the world. India stands out as an exception, where popular support for our government is increasing,” he said.

“Our government has worked with the motto of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas,’ which means —Together, for everyone's growth, with everyone's trust and everyone's efforts. People have the trust that if someone else has got benefits of our programs, it will also reach them. People have seen that India has raced ahead from 11th largest economy to the fifth largest economy. Now the country's aspiration is that India soon becomes the third largest economy,” he added.

On Discrimination Against Religious Minorities

Refuting allegations of discrimination against religious minorities, PM Modi said these are “usual tropes” deployed by some people “who don't bother to meet people outside their bubbles.”

“Minorities from all religions, be it Muslim, Christians, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain or even a micro-minority like Parsis are living happily and thriving in India. For the first time in our country, our government has come up with a unique saturation coverage approach when it comes to schemes and initiatives. They are not restricted for a group of people belonging to a particular community or a geography. They are meant to reach everyone, which means that they are designed in such a way that there cannot be any discrimination,” he said.