February 9, 2019: In a recent development, China's foreign ministry has condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday, saying it "resolutely opposes" activities of Indian leaders in the region.
In a statement the country's foreign ministry said, "China urges the Indian side to proceed from the overall situation of bilateral relations, respect China's interests and concerns, cherish the momentum of improving relations between the two countries, and refrain from any actions that intensify disputes and complicate the border issue."
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Despite recent efforts to improve bilateral ties in both countries, disputes over the mountainous Indo-China border - which triggered a war in 1962 - and the region that China claims as southern Tibet have remained a sensitive issue.
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It may be stated that Modi's visit to the northeastern state was part of a series of public meetings in the region aimed at garnering support for the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of elections that are due to be held by May.
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Reportedly, India's foreign ministry has not made any comment on China's statement.
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