China 'pretending' to be unperturbed about India hosting ASEAN leaders

In this year's Republic Day, 10 heads of States and government from the ASEAN member-states shared the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind. However, China seems to be apparently unhappy about it.

Chinese state media 'Global Times' today in one of its editorial opinion 'India's geopolitical bluff baffles China' reported that the summit will have negative effect upon China.

The editorial also said that 'some Indians' of being 'tenacious in exaggerating the meeting's implications to China.'

It further reported that ASEAN's trade volume with China is more than six times that of India, and China's investment in the region is 10 times that of India.

Global Times, however, noted that both countries should work together for development. ''The Sino-ASEAN relationship is sound and solid. In spite of territorial disputes, Beijing-Hanoi trade volume exceeds that of Beijing and New Delhi. The China-ASEAN relationship is inclusive and surpasses traditional geopolitics.''

Earlier on Thursday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in response to a question on India's invitation to the 10 ASEAN leaders, "China is open to all countries developing friendly relations."She added, "So, we are okay with India developing friendly and cooperative relations with ASEAN countries."

The ASEAN was founded in 1967, now comprising Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Brunei.

OneIndia News