Ancient civilizations should adjust ties

Later this month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit — his first visit to China since 2018. The symbolism will be closely watched. The two sides have taken some steps to improve bilateral ties. India said it has resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens from July 24, the first time in five years, and China said it has been in close communication with India to promote the early resumption of direct flights between the two countries.

Individually, these may appear as small steps. But together, they signal something more meaningful: a tentative shift from guarded distance toward cautious re-engagement. And if we take the long-term view, this re-engagement is not simply political — it is profoundly civilizational.

Too often, the India-China relationship is framed narrowly — in terms of border disputes, trade deficits, or strategic rivalry. Yet, long before any modern boundary was drawn, the two civilizations were bound together by the exchange of ideas, philosophies and spiritual traditions.

Foremost among these was Buddhism — an Indian gift that took deep root in Chinese soil and grew into one of the major sources of traditional Chinese thoughts. According to ancient tradition, Emperor Ming, the second emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), dreamt of a golden figure in the clouds. Believing it to be the Buddha, he dispatched envoys westward to seek its origin. They returned with sacred texts, relics and two monks from India, Kasyapa Matanga and Dharmaratna. The White Horse Temple in Luoyang — China's first Buddhist monastery — was born of that journey.

Over the centuries, scholars such as Kumarajiva, Xuanzang, and Faxian undertook arduous journeys across mountains and deserts to translate, interpret and transmit vast collections of Buddhist texts. Their work enriched China's intellectual and spiritual life and, in turn, brought Chinese interpretations of Buddhism back to India and beyond. Even today, in the frescoes of Dunhuang, the carvings of Longmen, or the serene halls of Chinese temples, the Indian imprint remains — not as a faint historical footnote, but as an enduring testament to a partnership of the mind and spirit.

With different political systems and modern history, China and India share deep-rooted values: respect for family and tradition, a belief in education as a path to self-cultivation, and a philosophical search for balance and harmony.

Buddhism resonated so strongly in China precisely because it found common ground with Confucian ethics and Taoist principles. Concepts such as compassion, non-attachment, and the Middle Way harmonized with the Chinese ethos of moderation, moral conduct and societal harmony. The familiar chant "Namo Amituofo" in Chinese temples is a living bridge to India's ancient spiritual heritage.

Seen through this lens, the two countries are not simply geographic neighbors — they are civilizational cousins whose shared heritage could form the bedrock for a more stable and cooperative future.

In today's turbulent world, such cooperation is not merely desirable; it is essential. The international order is undergoing profound shifts — from rising protectionism in some Western countries to fragility in global supply chains and increasing geopolitical uncertainty. Both China and India, as major emerging economies and ancient civilizations, face similar external pressures, including attempts to contain their development.

Recent trade moves by the United States have made this even clearer. Washington has announced a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods. The US administration has also imposed significant tariffs on Chinese exports, although they have been engaging in prolonged negotiations. While these actions may appear as setbacks, they could in fact be a boon in disguise for Beijing and New Delhi. The two nations can turn it into an opportunity by deepening economic cooperation, expanding bilateral trade, and jointly developing supply chains that reduce reliance on unpredictable Western markets.

History shows that when Asia's two great civilizations stand apart, external forces tend to dominate the region's narrative. When they engage constructively, they can anchor stability not just for themselves, but for the broader Global South. In a multipolar world, Beijing and New Delhi have the opportunity — and arguably a responsibility — to work together to shape a balanced, inclusive and cooperative global order.

Diplomatic breakthroughs often begin not in conference rooms but in cultural exchanges. The deep reservoir of shared history between China and India offers a unique form of "cultural statecraft" that can complement traditional diplomacy.

As such, the two sides should consider organizing cultural events that focus on philosophy, meditation, and the ethics of sustainable development. Culture does not erase differences. But it can soften their sharpest edges, building mutual trust in ways that purely transactional diplomacy cannot.

While cultural dialogue provides a strong foundation, economic cooperation can give it practical momentum.

China is India's largest trading partner, and despite recent challenges, there is scope to expand collaboration in green technology, renewable energy, infrastructure development, and digital innovation.

Joint ventures in clean energy could address shared concerns about climate change while generating employment and advancing technological capacity. And initiatives in health cooperation — from traditional medicine to modern pharmaceuticals — could deepen people-to-people trust.

For such cooperation to succeed, both sides must ensure a level playing field and address each other's concerns frankly while avoiding the zerosum mentality that has too often shaped international interactions in recent years.

Recalibrating the China-India relationship is not just about resolving disputes; it is also about recognizing a shared civilizational responsibility. In an era when the global order is in flux, constructive engagement between the two nations can serve as an anchor for Asia and an example of cooperation for the wider world.

The author is a Sinologist at the University of Bath, the UK, and the first deputy mayor of Asian heritage in Bath.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

If you have a specific expertise, or would like to share your thought about our stories, then send us your writings at opinion@chinadaily.com.cn, and comment@chinadaily.com.cn.