Beijing, June 3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assessment of Sino-Indian relations is being "positively" viewed by China. The response from Beijing came to Modi's remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, where he described India-China cooperation as essential for the development of Asia, and the world at large.

Lieutenant General He Lei, who headed China's delegation at Shangri-La, said the Indian PM's approach should be welcomed. "Modi gave a positive assessment of China-Indian relations in his speech," he was reported as saying.

In his keynote address on Friday, Modi said, "Asia will have a better future" if China and India work towards achieving mutual goals, without hindering with each other's interests.

"No other relationship of India has as many layers as our relations with China. We are the world's two most populous countries and among the fastest growing major economies," Modi had further added.

The upwind swing in Sino-Indian ties came in April, when PM Modi was called upon by President Xi Jinping to attend an informal one-to-one summit in Wuhan. The two heads of states interacted for more than 10 hours during their bilateral meetings on April 28-29.

Modi's remarks on India-China cooperation also comes ahead of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Summit (SCO), which will feature the first-ever participation of India and Pakistan as full-time members. Modi and Jinping are also scheduled to hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of the summit, scheduled on June 9-10.

Chinese academicians, affiliated to the ruling communist party's think-tank, have also welcomed Modi's speech at Singapore. The Indian PM's remark, the scholars claim, pose a doubt on US' strategy of cornering Beijing via strategic and military alliances with India.

"The Indo-Pacific strategy, and the quasi-alliance between the US, Japan, India and Australia will not last long," said Zhao Xiaozhuo, a research fellow at the PLA Academy of Military Sciences. "Modi administration needs improved China-India ties," he added.

Notably, Modi made no reference to the Quad — comprising US, Japan, Australia and India — which last year being floated as a strategic counter to China's assertion in the Pacific region.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 03, 2018 11:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).