Neighbors nurture improved relations with goodwill

During his conversation with the host of a YouTube podcast on the weekend, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the need to strengthen relations with China despite past tensions, emphasizing dialogue over discord and cooperation over conflict.

"We are now working to restore conditions to how they were before 2020. Slowly but surely, trust, enthusiasm, and energy will return. But of course, it will take some time, since there's been a five-year gap," said Modi. "Our cooperation isn't just beneficial, it's also essential for global stability and prosperity. And since the 21st century is Asia's century, we want India and China to compete in a healthy and natural way. Competition is not a bad thing, but it should never turn into conflict."

This latest positive comment of the Indian side on Sino-Indian relations reciprocates that of the Chinese side.

In his meeting with the media in Beijing on March 7 on the sidelines of the annual gathering of the top legislature, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China and India should be partners that contribute to each other's success, and stressed that this is the only right choice for both sides.

This round of exchange of goodwill between Beijing and New Delhi represents a continuation of the positive momentum that has been generated since the meeting between the Indian and Chinese leaders in October.

During that meeting between Modi and the top Chinese leader in Kazan, Russia, on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit, the two heads of state agreed to view and handle bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective, and not allow their differences to affect the overall development of their relationship.

Since then, the two neighbors have markedly accelerated their joint efforts to restore the relations.

Wang and India's special representative for the China-India boundary question, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, co-hosted the 23rd meeting of the special representatives on the issue in Beijing in December, the first of its kind in five years, and reached a six-point consensus.

In late January, China and India reached multiple consensuses, including India expressing full support for China's rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and both sides agreeing to resume direct flights between the Chinese mainland and India, and facilitating personnel exchanges.

As two neighbors, two ancient civilizations, and the two largest developing countries that are seeking to accelerate their respective development, there is every reason for the two countries to support each other and work with each other.

Beijing and New Delhi have enough wisdom and capability to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas pending a fair and reasonable solution.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India, during which they have agreed to carry out media and think tank exchanges, dialogues and other people-to-people exchanges. The healthy development of Sino-Indian relations serves the fundamental interests of both countries and the two peoples, as well as those of the region and the Global South as a whole.