President Xi Jinping has called for Beijing and New Delhi to work more closely following a period of strained relations
Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Tuesday, called for China and India to strengthen their cooperation, comparing their relationship to a “Dragon-Elephant dance.” The statement came as the two countries marked the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations, with presidents of both nations exchanging congratulatory messages.
Xi pointed out that China and India are both ancient civilizations, major developing countries, and key members of the Global South, with both currently at a crucial stage in their modernization efforts, according to an official statement released by Beijing.
“The development of China-India relations demonstrates that it is the right choice for China and India to be partners of mutual achievement and realize the “Dragon-Elephant Tango,” which fully serves the fundamental interests of both countries and their peoples”, Xi said.
The Chinese leader also expressed his commitment to jointly maintain peace and stability in mutual border regions. The statement quoted Indian President Murmu suggesting that a “stable, predictable, and friendly” bilateral relationship between the two nations that are “home to one-third of the world’s population” would benefit both countries and the world.
Earlier in the day, Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong told the Global Times that the ties between the two countries are “at a crucial stage” and that Beijing is “willing to work with the Indian side to strengthen practical cooperation in trade and other areas, and to import more Indian products that are well-suited to the Chinese market.”“We also welcome more Indian enterprises to cross the Himalayas and seek opportunities for cooperation in China, sharing the dividends of China’s development,” he stated.
Great pleasure to join Foreign Secretary @VikramMisri and friends from all walks of life to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of #China-India diplomatic relations. I firmly believe that under the strategic guidance of two leaders and with the joint efforts of… pic.twitter.com/mLaBUKqiim
The remarks come against the backdrop of efforts by the two nations to reset ties after the 2020 Galwan Valley clash along the disputed Himalayan border, in which soldiers from both sides were killed. After extended military and diplomatic discussions, New Delhi and Beijing announced in October last year that they had reached an agreement on disengagement from areas of tension and would work towards normalizing their relations.
The announcement was made on the eve of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, where Xi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a comprehensive bilateral meeting, marking their first such engagement in almost five years. Modi, in a recent podcast with Lex Fridman, stressed the importance of dialogue over discord, acknowledging that differences between neighboring countries are inevitable but should not be allowed to escalate into disputes.
The latest statements also come as both India and China weigh the potential impact of reciprocal tariffs that US President Donald Trump vowed would come into effect on April 2.
New Delhi is considering allowing further inflows from China as a countermeasure to the upcoming tariffs, Indian Express reported last month. While China has hit back at the US, suggesting that “if war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war, or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end.” New Delhi’s response to Trump’s tariff pressure was rather cautious. India and the US conducted the first round of trade agreement talks last week, stating that both nations aim to finalize the first tranche of the deal by fall 2025.
