Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday called Goa the epitome of the future and a bright prospect of India, considering its level of development, and exuded confidence that the BRICS summit will place the coastal State on an even bigger global stage.
“Goa has a time-honoured history, beautiful landscape, rich resources and hardworking people and is one of the most developed States in India. Chief Minister just said, Goa is small, but beautiful. I am sure that the BRICS summit will put the State of Goa on an even bigger stage,” Mr. Wang told presspersons after meeting Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar here on Friday morning.
The Chinese Minister is in Goa to review logistics and security arrangements for Chinese president Xi Jinping’s visit to Goa for the coming BRICS summit scheduled for October.
“I have come here because the BRICS summit will be held in Goa hosted by Prime Minister Modi. He has invited Chinese president Xi Jinping to come and attend the BRICS summit and I have come to Goa to take a look at the venues,” Mr. Wang said.
He lauded the Chief Minister, saying that upon his arrival in Goa he was received with warm hospitality and thoughtful arrangements by the Chief Minister and the Goa government, and went on to express friendly sentiments to the people of Goa.
He indicated that he is expected to meet his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi on Saturday.
To a question on the South China Sea dispute, he said it is up to India to decide on what position it wishes to take vis-a-vis the ongoing issue.
“It is up to India to decide what position to take,” he said.
