Xi Jinping (ANI image)
NEW DELHI: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday extended greetings to President Droupadi Murmu on the occasion of India’s 77th Republic Day, describing New Delhi and Beijing as “good neighbours, friends and partners.” He also said that achieving the vision of the “dragon and the elephant dancing together” is the right choice for both countries.In his message, Xi said India-China relations have continued to improve and develop, aligning with the fundamental interests of both countries and their people. He added that the relationship also carried significant implications for global peace and prosperity.
According to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency, he stressed that Beijing has consistently believed that being good neighbours, friends and partners who help each other succeed is the correct path for the two Asian giants.Xi also expressed hope that both sides would adhere to the consensus that China and India are “partners for cooperation and opportunities for development,” strengthen strategic communication, expand exchanges and cooperation, address each other’s concerns and promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties.Highlighting Xi’s message, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong shared a post on X, reiterating Beijing’s position on ties with New Delhi. Chinese Premier Li Qiang also sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The message comes amid a gradual improvement in ties between the two countries, which had stalled following the eastern Ladakh military standoff in 2020. Relations began to revive after PM Modi and President Xi held two meetings first in Kazan in 2024, and 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.In recent months, India and China have taken a series of steps to normalise relations after ending the more than four-year military face-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. These include resumption of direct flights in October, agreement to restart the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, commemoration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and visa facilitation. India also resumed granting tourist visas to Chinese nationals in July, reversing a suspension imposed after the 2020 standoff.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 said that the discussions focused on advancing ties through enhanced people-to-people exchanges while addressing sensitive issues. Separately, a Chinese Communist Party delegation also held courtesy meetings with leaders of the RSS and the BJP as part of routine exchanges, news agency ANI reported.