China has expressed its willingness to strengthen cooperation with India, emphasizing that collaboration between the two nations is the “only right choice” for their mutual success. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlighted that recent developments including the resolution of the military standoff in eastern Ladakh, have led to “positive strides” in bilateral relations.
Speaking at a press conference during China’s annual parliamentary session, Wang urged both countries to work together to oppose hegemonism and power politics. He likened India-China relations to a “cooperative pas de deux” of the dragon and the elephant emphasizing that supporting each other rather than competing would benefit both nations.
His comments come at a time of escalating tensions between China and the United States particularly after US President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on Chinese imports. Beijing has vowed to counter Washington’s actions while simultaneously seeking to reinforce ties with New Delhi.
The improvement in India-China ties follows the October 2023 Kazan meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The meeting which came after a prolonged border dispute, resulted in strategic agreements including troop disengagement from Depsang and Demchok the last two friction points in eastern Ladakh.
Wang noted that both leaders provided “strategic guidance” to restore trust and cooperation leading to increased diplomatic engagements and practical collaboration. The two nations have also revived dialogue mechanisms to address ongoing issues and enhance economic and cultural exchanges.
The Chinese foreign minister stressed that India and China as the largest neighbors to each other share a responsibility to maintain regional peace and stability. He urged both sides not to let the border dispute overshadow the broader scope of their relationship.
Wang say “As two ancient civilizations, we have the wisdom and capability to maintain peace in border areas while working toward a fair and reasonable solution”. He added that the 75th anniversary of India-China diplomatic relations presents an opportunity to inject new momentum into bilateral ties.
Wang’s statements align with recent discussions between him and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Johannesburg. Both leaders acknowledged the progress in normalizing ties and agreed to expand cooperation in economic and cultural domains.
While the United States has offered to mediate in India-China tensions. New Delhi has maintained that border issues should be resolved bilaterally. India has reiterated its commitment to strengthening relations with China while safeguarding its territorial integrity.
