Beijing, March 17: China on Monday said that it “appreciates” Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent “positive remarks” on China-India relations as both sides earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries in Kazan, last year.

In a conversation with US-based podcaster Lex Fridman, which was released on Sunday, PM Modi laid stress on efforts that are being made to ensure that differences between both countries do not escalate into conflicts and dialogue remaining key to diplomatic approach.

PM Modi emphasised that cooperation between India and China is essential for global stability and prosperity, advocating for healthy competition rather than conflict.

“Dialogue is the key to building a stable and cooperative relationship that benefits both nations”, he said.

Appreciating Prime Minister Modi’s remarks, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi had provided strategic guidance for improving and developing China-India relations during their successful meeting in Kazan, last October.

“We appreciate Prime Minister Modi’s recent positive remarks on China-India relations. Last October, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi met successfully in Kazan and provided strategic guidance for improving and developing China-India relations. Recently, the two sides have earnestly implemented the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthened exchanges and practical cooperation at all levels, and achieved a series of positive results,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a regular media briefing in Beijing.

The spokesperson highlighted the historical exchanges between India and China for more than 2,000 years, citing that friendly exchanges and mutual learning have been the mainstream, making important contributions to world civilization and human progress.

“As the two largest developing countries, the current common task of the two sides is to strive to achieve the development and revitalization of their respective countries. They should understand, support and achieve each other. This is in line with the fundamental interests of more than 2.8 billion people in the two countries, in line with the common expectations of regional countries, in line with the historical trend of the Global South’s outstanding growth, and conducive to world peace, stability, development and prosperity,” she added.

Beijing also asserted taht China always believes that the two should be partners that contribute to each other’s success and a cooperative pas de deux of the dragon and the elephant is the only right choice for both sides.

“China is willing to work with India to thoroughly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, take this year’s 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India as an opportunity to promote exchanges and cooperation at all levels in all fields, and push forward the development of China-India relations along a healthy and stable track,” stated Mao Ning.

During his conversation with Fridman, PM Modi acknowledged that differences are natural between neighbours and stressed the need to prevent them from escalating into disputes.

Addressing the ongoing border disputes, Prime Minister Modi acknowledged the tensions that arose in 2020 but noted that his recent meeting with Chinese President Xi has led to a return to normalcy at the border. He highlighted efforts to restore conditions to pre-2020 levels and expressed optimism that trust, enthusiasm, and energy would gradually return. He also emphasised that cooperation between India and China is essential for global stability and prosperity, advocating for healthy competition rather than conflict.

United Nations, March 15: UN humanitarians said that 63,000 metric tonnes of food await an end to the Gaza aid blockade, enough for 1.1 million people for two to three months.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the 12-day aid blockage hinders relief operations, Xinhua news agency reported.

“This means, for example, that the World Food Programme (WFP) has not been able to transport any food supplies into Gaza due to the closure of all border crossing points for both humanitarian and commercial supplies,” OCHA said. “WFP has about 63,000 metric tonnes of food destined for Gaza, stored or in transit in the region.”

WFP said it has enough stocks to support active bakeries and community kitchens for up to one month and can also provide ready-to-eat food parcels for more than 500,000 people for two weeks. However, before the ceasefire, WFP reduced the quantity of ready-to-eat food parcels so that families could stretch their supplies and serve more people.

It isn’t just a shortage of food. A lack of fuel affects vehicle movements across Gaza and slows first responders.

OCHA said oxygen supplies and electricity generators are also critically needed to maintain life-saving operations at hospitals in Gaza. At least two dozen additional generators are in short supply for health centres, as the ones in use need maintenance and spare parts.

In the West Bank, the humanitarian office warned that settler violence is escalating in certain areas across the region, causing casualties, property damage and placing communities at high risk of displacement.

Over the past two years, OCHA has documented the displacement of more than 2,000 Palestinians across the West Bank due to heightened settler violence and access restrictions.

In the northern West Bank, the Israeli military operation entered its eighth week.

The office said people continue to be displaced, and last week Israeli forces raided at least 10 mosques across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

“Since Monday, operations in Jenin city have intensified, with more than 500 people displaced from three neighbourhoods in the eastern part of the city, according to the municipality,” OCHA said. “The UN and its partners warn that food insecurity is rising, as operations by Israeli forces, displacement, and movement restrictions limit access to food.”

Also, OCHA said there was a sharp increase in the demolition of Palestinian-owned structures in the West Bank over the past week and a half. The number of structures demolished during the first 10 days of Ramadan this year exceeds the total for all of Ramadan in 2024.

Moscow, March 14: President Vladimir Putin supported the US ceasefire proposal ‘in principle’ but also sought some clarifications and put some conditions. This has raised questions on the hopes of an early end to the Russia-Ukraine war.

In February 2022, the Russian army launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia called its 2022 invasion a ‘special military operation’ designed to “liberate Ukraine from Nazism” and prevent NATO expansion.

On Washington’s ceasefire agreement, Putin said that many important issues need to be resolved and any agreement should address the root causes of the conflict.

Putin told media in the Kremlin, “We agree with the proposals to end hostilities. The idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it.”

The Russian President said, “But we believe that the pause should be such that it leads to long-term peace and eliminates the root causes of this crisis.”

Putin said that many issues need to be clarified. He thanked Trump for ending the war.

On Tuesday, after more than eight hours of talks with Ukrainian and US officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Kiev announced its acceptance of the ceasefire proposal.

Meanwhile, Russia on Thursday claimed that its army has retaken control of Sudja, the largest city occupied by Ukraine in the Kursk region. Moscow’s claim is a big blow to Ukraine, which wanted to use this city as a ‘bargaining chip’ in ceasefire talks.

According to the report of Russian state news agency TASS, the announcement came after US special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow on Thursday.

In August last year, thousands of Ukrainian troops occupied about 1,300 square (500 square miles) kilometers of Russia’s Kursk region. Kiev said this was an attempt to gain leverage in future talks and force Russia to withdraw from eastern Ukraine. However, in recent days the Russian army has achieved significant success in this area.

According to the Russian army, due to the rapid advance in the last few days, Ukraine has less than 200 square km (77 square miles) of area left in Kursk.