China describes India's northeast as 'most neglected'

Beijing: As India's general elections began today from the northeastern states, Chinese official media described the remote region as the most "neglected" area in the country.

"India's northeastern states - which also include Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Nagaland - are said to be the country's most neglected region," state-run Xinhua news agency said in its report on the commencement of polls in India.

There was no mention of Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as Southern Tibet.

Earlier China reacted guardedly to BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's accusation in February that it had an expansionist mindset. Modi had also asserted that Arunachal Pradesh was an integral part of India and will remain so.

Though Modi's comments came up for mild criticism from Chinese media, analysts in China view him favourably as he visited Beijing twice as Gujarat Chief Minister and Gujarat has received maximum Chinese investments in India.