New Delhi/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed on the "importance" and "significance" of the India-China relationship and expressed the eagerness to "urgently address" the border issues, amid the hostility between the two Asian giants.

In an interview with Newsweek, the Prime Minister said, "For India, the relationship with China is important and significant. It is my belief that we need to urgently address the prolonged situation on our borders so that the abnormality in our bilateral interactions can be put behind us. Stable and peaceful relations between India and China are important for not just our two countries but the entire region and world."

"I hope and believe that through positive and constructive bilateral engagement at the diplomatic and military levels, we will be able to restore and sustain peace and tranquility in our borders," he added.

Photo courtesy: PIB

Modi's comment comes just days after China referred to Arunachal Pradesh as 'Zangnan' and claimed it does not belong to India.

The Chinese Defence Minister said it "never acknowledges and firmly opposes" the existence of "so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally established in India".

Refusing to weigh in on China's renewed claim over the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, "If today I change the name of your house, will it become mine? Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always be a state of India. Changing names does not have an effect."

China objects to Modi's Arunachal Pradesh visit

Last month, China lodged a complaint with New Delhi over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

India had outrightly rejected China's objection to Modi's visit to the northeastern state.

India had maintained Arunachal Pradesh "was, is, and will" remain as an "integral and inalienable part" of the country.

Photo courtesy: PIB

India-China dispute

India and China have a long running dispute over territorial boundaries, especially over Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Ladakh under Jammu and Kashmir.

In 1962 China and India fought a brief war over Aksai Chin (Ladakh region) and Arunachal Pradesh, but in 1993 and 1996 the two countries signed agreements to respect the Line of Actual Control.

The 4,057 km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) is the effective border between India and People's Republic of China (PRC).