Mukherjee, who met the top Chinese leadership including President Xi Jinping yesterday, also expressed the hope that China will play a "positive and facilitative role" in ensuring a predictable environment for India in its pursuit of civil nuclear programme in bridging the huge power deficit the country faces.
His statement on the two issues in his interaction with the media on board Air India One aircraft on his way back home, assume significance in the context of China's recent action in blocking a UN move to designate Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist and Beijing's stand that India should sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) for gaining admission to the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group.
"Terrorism was an important topic which I covered in my meetings," the President said. During his discussions with the Chinese leadership, he conveyed to them that there was universal concern over growing acts of terrorism.
"India has been a victim of terrorism for around three and a half decades. There is no good terrorist or bad terrorist. Terrorism respects neither ideology nor geographical boundaries. Wanton destruction is its only aim.
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"We confine ourselves to overall policy issues and not confined to specific issues. This was decided when I was External Affairs Minister."
On the nuclear issue, Mukherjee said he conveyed to the Chinese leaders that India faces acute energy shortage and was engaged in efforts to significantly expand power generation in the country.
India has announced a goal of 40 per cent non-fossil fuel power generation capacity and it can be achieved only if we rapidly expand the generation of nuclear power.
Mukherjee said the two sides agreed that as neighbours it was natural for them to have differences from time to time.
"But what is important is that we should continue to advance our relationship while managing our differences."
On the vexed boundary question, the Chinese leadership conveyed their resolve to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution of the dispute at an early date.