Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday conveyed warm greetings to President Droupadi Murmu on the occasion of India's 77th Republic Day, highlighting the evolving partnership between the two neighboring nations. In his message, Xi described New Delhi and Beijing as "good neighbours, friends and partners", underscoring a shared vision for mutual progress.
Vision of Dragon and Elephant Dancing Together
President Xi articulated that achieving the vision of the "dragon and the elephant dancing together" represents the optimal path for both countries. He emphasized that India-China relations have shown consistent improvement and development, aligning with the core interests of their peoples. According to China's state-run Xinhua news agency, Xi reiterated Beijing's longstanding belief that fostering a partnership based on mutual support and success is the correct trajectory for these Asian giants.
Strategic Communication and Cooperation
Xi expressed optimism that both sides would adhere to the consensus viewing China and India as "partners for cooperation and opportunities for development". He called for enhanced strategic communication, expanded exchanges and cooperation, and addressing each other's concerns to promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties. Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong reinforced this message by sharing a post on X, reiterating Beijing's position on strengthening relations with New Delhi.
Gradual Improvement in Bilateral Relations
The congratulatory messages from Chinese leaders come amid a gradual thaw in India-China relations, which had faced challenges following the eastern Ladakh military standoff in 2020. Relations began to revive after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi held two significant meetings:
- First in Kazan in 2024
- Later in Tianjin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in August last year
During their August meeting, the two leaders agreed to deepen bilateral ties, tackle pressing challenges, and work towards a "fair" solution to the long-standing border issue.
Steps Towards Normalization
In recent months, India and China have implemented several measures to normalize relations after ending the more than four-year military face-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. Key initiatives include:
- Resumption of direct flights in October
- Agreement to restart the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra
- Commemoration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations
- Visa facilitation measures
India also resumed granting tourist visas to Chinese nationals in July, reversing a suspension imposed after the 2020 standoff.
Diplomatic Engagements and Exchanges
Earlier this month, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Sun Haiyan, vice minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, to review the positive momentum in bilateral relations. The Ministry of External Affairs noted that discussions focused on advancing ties through enhanced people-to-people exchanges while addressing sensitive issues. Separately, a Chinese Communist Party delegation held courtesy meetings with leaders of the RSS and the BJP as part of routine exchanges, as reported by news agency ANI.
These diplomatic efforts reflect a concerted push to rebuild trust and cooperation between India and China, with both nations recognizing the broader implications of their relationship for regional and global stability.
