NEW DELHI: China and India’s relationship should take the form of a “Dragon-Elephant tango,” a dance between their emblematic animals, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Indian counterpart Droupadi Murmu while exchanging congratulatory messages on Tuesday, marking the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations.
Xi also said both countries should work more closely together, according to the Reuters.
The Chinese and Indian presidents exchanged congratulatory messages on Tuesday, the 75th anniversary of the start of their diplomatic ties, as tensions ease after a 2020 clash between their troops along their shared border in the Himalayas.
Beside Xi Jinping and Murmu, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also exchanged congratulatory messages respectively.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun, during a media briefing, highlighted that both nations are ancient civilisations and significant developing countries within the Global South, currently progressing through crucial modernisation phases.
He emphasised that bilateral cooperation between the two nations has proven beneficial, indicating that partnership is the optimal path forward for both countries.
Guo stated China’s commitment to strengthen strategic trust and enhance cooperation across various sectors, guided by both nations’ leadership, whilst maintaining a long-term perspective on bilateral relations.
He referenced the significant meeting between Modi and Xi at Kazan, Russia, during the BRICS summit last year, which provided direction for bilateral relations.
The two nations are actively implementing their leaders’ consensus and advancing cooperative initiatives with positive outcomes.
Guo stressed the importance of maintaining border area peace, enhancing communication on international matters, and ensuring stable development of Indo-Chinese relations.
Regarding anniversary celebrations, Guo confirmed both nations’ willingness to utilise this occasion for strengthening bilateral ties, with specific event details to be announced later.
Following Modi and Xi’s meeting last year, both countries engaged in high-level discussions, including Special Representatives’ boundary talks and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s Beijing visit to normalise relations after the Ladakh standoff.
On March 25, both nations held diplomatic discussions in Beijing, focusing on effective border management and reinstating cross-border cooperation, including trans-border rivers and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
The WMCC meeting explored proposals based on decisions from the December Special Representatives dialogue between NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Subsequently, MEA joint secretary Gourangalal Das and Chinese foreign ministry’s director General Liu Jinsong met in Beijing to discuss relationship rebuilding, including resumption of direct flights and the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra.
The MEA reported that both parties discussed reinstating dialogue mechanisms gradually to address mutual concerns and establish more stable relations.
