India provides intrinsic link between developed, developing worlds: Salman Khurshid

Khurshid pointed out that nothing would prevent rapid engagement with China in any of the other fields in which India has no differences with the neighbouring country.

The Minister also made it clear that China-India relations were on its own just as US-India relations were on its own, dismissing any suggestion of linkage.

"We will never be allies of the US; we will be friends, strategic partners, not allies.

"And similarly we will be strategic partners with China; hopefully, we will become friends with China when all our issues are resolved; we have a very good working relationship with them, but we have things to resolve with them," he added.