China condemns Indian PM Modi’s visit to disputed northeastern border areas

Beijing - China has condemned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the disputed northeastern border state of Arunachal Pradesh, Radio Pakistan reported.

In a statement released in Beijing on Saturday, Foreign Ministry said that China resolutely opposes activities of Indian leaders in the region. The statement warned India to refrain from any action that intensifies disputes and complicate the border issue.

Modi’s visit was part of a series of public meetings in the region aimed at garnering support for Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of Indian elections that are due to be held in May this year.

Despite recent efforts to improve bilateral ties between 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.

"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," the ministry said in a statement.