China for closer ties with India to remove ‘cancer’ of terror

Terming terrorism a “cancer” that needed to be removed jointly by world community, China on Monday called for close cooperation between Indian and Chinese security establishments as the two countries for the first time worked out a joint mechanism to combat the menace.

The joint action plan was finalised during the just- concluded visit of Home Minister Rajnath Singh to China. Commenting on Singh’s visit, first by an Indian Home Minister in a decade, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters here that during his meeting with Singh last week Premier Li Keqiang called for close cooperation between law enforcement forces of both the countries to combat terrorism, which has become a menace to the world. “During the meeting Li pointed out that the world is filled with both conventional and unconventional security threats and the situation is becoming serious,” Hong said. He said law enforcement agencies of the two sides should enhance cooperation to jointly maintain social stability and create favourable conditions for economic development to jointly safeguard world peace and tranquillity. “Terrorism is a cancer that needs to be removed jointly by the international community,” Hong said commenting on Paris and Mali attacks. Singh winded up his visit on Monday after extensive talks between the two security establishments which have until now remained apart, especially due to China’s close ties with Pakistan and Beijing’s suspicions over Indo-US relations. He visited Chinese internal security institutions both in Beijing and Shanghai.

The two sides have already completed five rounds of anti-terrorism exercises between them. Besides coordinating positions on international terrorism, both sides agreed to exchange intelligence on terrorist groups, activities and their links. 

The talks also covered India’s concerns over China blocking its move to get UN to take action against Pakistan for releasing Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.