‘No Pair Of Twins Like India & China’: Chinese Envoy Amid Row Over Wushu Players’ Visas

Consul General of China, Zha Liyou has called for stable ties between India and China days after China’s decision to not provide visas to Indian wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh for the Asian Games. Speaking at an event in Kolkata, Zha said that China is willing to work with all parties, including India, to work towards a peaceful world. He said that only India and China have a population of over a billion in the entire world and there were ‘no other twins and pairs and partners like this’.

“China is willing to work with all parties, including India, to serve as the builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and defender of the international order with a broader vision, a more open mind and a more positive attitude and write a new chapter in the programs of human political civilizations. China and India share this commonality of very long history and civilization…” the Chinese envoy said on Sunday.

#WATCH | Kolkata: On India-China relations, Consul General of China in Kolkata, Zha Liyou says “We are the only two major countries with a population of more than 1 billion. There are no other twins and pairs and partners like this. We are important emerging economies with a… pic.twitter.com/XYRFQ8LIy6

— ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2023

“We are the only two major countries with a population of more than 1 billion. There are no other twins and pairs and partners like this. We are important emerging economies with a broader development prospect…A stable and healthy China-India relationship is in the fundamental interest of both countries and their people,” he added.

As per PTI, when asked about the denial of visas to three Indian athletes, Zha said, “Asian Game is the game for all of us. We are family… this is a bilateral issue and I would invite you to reach out to Chinese Embassy…”

Earlier on Friday, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur cancelled his upcoming visit to Hangzhou for the Asian Games to protest against China’s decision to deny visas to three Indian wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh. Female players Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu have been denied accreditation, which also works as a visa for the Asian Games, the agency reported.

India strongly reacted to the development and rejected the “differential treatment of Indian citizens on the basis of domicile or ethnicity”.

In a statement, the MEA said, “Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, issues statement underscoring the fact that in keeping with our long-standing and consistent position, India firmly rejects differential treatment of Indian citizens on the basis of domicile or ethnicity. Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India.”

Meanwhile, the Olympic Council of Asia is looking into the issue.

ALSO READ | Wushu Team Flying To China Held Back After Beijing Issues ‘Stapled Visas’ For Arunachal Players, MEA Reacts