China’s Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are together charting right path to improve the ties between India and China. He said that two countries have witnessed several “twists and turns” in the past 75 years, adding that the two leaders have met twice in past one year, making efforts to better the bilateral ties.
“China and India share a history of resisting fascism and fighting for national independence and liberation… This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. Over the past 75 years, China-India relations have experienced twists and turns, but friendly cooperation has always been the dominant theme,” Ambassador Xu said.
“Over the past year, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi have met twice in Kazan and Tianjin, charting the right course for the improvement and development of bilateral relations. The two sides have earnestly implemented the important consensus reached by the two leaders,” he added.
He further said that direct flights between the two countries are expected to be resumed shortly. “We are ready to enhance exchanges with India across all sectors, including political parties, legislatures, think tanks, media, and youth, to further promote people-to-people bonds,” Xu Feihong said.
Xu also stressed on the recent meeting between the foreign ministers and other special representatives of both countries, stating that New Delhi and Beijing have been involved in continuous dialogue. “These efforts have contributed to the sound and steady development of bilateral relations…” he said.
Modi-Xi meet at SCO
PM Modi recently met Chinese President Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on August 31-September 1. This was Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to China in seven years and his first bilateral meeting with Xi Jinping in the country since 2018. The discussions covered sensitive issues such as border management, trade, and civilisational cooperation.
Speaking at the summit, PM Modi recalled the constructive discussions with China at Kazan in 2024 and highlighted that border disengagement had created an atmosphere of peace and stability. He emphasised that the relationship should move forward on the principles of mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity, reiterating that cooperation between India and China affects not only 2.8 billion people directly but also global welfare.
The meeting came against the backdrop of rising US tariffs on both India and China. Recently, president Donald Trump said that the US has lost both India and Russia to “deepest, darkest” China, suggesting that Washington does realise the repercussion of its trade policy.
Beijing ready for ‘new chapter of dragon-elephant tango’
China is open to letting Indian goods enter its market, China’s ambassador to India, Xu Feihong said on Thursday in a major remark that could change the business ties between the two Asian neighbours. He said together, India and China can partner in different areas to produce an effective “1 plus 1, bigger than 2”.
“…We welcome all Indian commodities to enter the Chinese market…” the Chinese envoy said, adding that “they (India and China) are partners and not rivals”.
Xu said that there is a need for the two Asian countries to strengthen their mutual trust, and avoid suspicion. “For two neighbouring countries of such size, unity and cooperation are the only way to achieve common development…China and India’s friendship benefits Asia…We are the double engines of economic growth in Asia…”