Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, has said that India and China must urgently resolve their border dispute.
The two Asian giants share a poorly defined border in the Himalayas which runs for more than 3 000 km.
It has been the source of tension between the two countries for decades with the most recent border skirmishes taking place in 2020 and 2021.
In 1962 the two fought a month-long border war.
Modi made the comments in a rare interview, saying that in order to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries it was important to secure clarity on the border.
‘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 at our borders. 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,’ Modi said.
India is about to go to the polls where Modi is expected to win a third term as India’s leader.