Wang Yi endorses stronger China-India relations for regional, global stability

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that China and India should strengthen the momentum of improving bilateral relations, expand cooperation, and provide much-needed certainty and stability for Asia and the world.

Wang made the remarks during talks with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi.

He noted that the successful meeting between the leaders of the two countries last year in Kazan has set the stage for China-India relations to restart and progress. With dialogue and exchanges gradually resuming at various levels, bilateral ties are showing positive momentum toward a full return to cooperation, Wang added.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and India. Wang said the two sides should reflect on their interactions over the past 75 years, foster a correct strategic understanding, and view each other as partners and opportunities rather than rivals or threats.

Both countries, Wang said, should channel their valuable resources into development and revitalization, calling for efforts to explore the right path for neighboring major countries to coexist peacefully with mutual respect, trust, and win-win cooperation.

He also stressed the need for Beijing and New Delhi to meet each other halfway, eliminating disruptions, expanding cooperation, and ensuring that the revitalization of their two great Eastern civilizations reinforce and complement each other.

In the world where unilateralism and bullying are rampant, free trade and the international order face severe challenges, Wang said, pointing out that China and India, as the two largest developing countries with a combined population of over 2.8 billion people, should set an example for the broader developing world in pursuing self-strengthening.

The two countries should contribute to a multipolar world and the democratization of international relations, he added.

For his part, Jaishankar highlighted the importance of improving strategic perceptions, emphasizing that a stable, cooperative and forward-looking relationship serves the interests of both sides.

He expressed India's willingness to leverage the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties to deepen political mutual trust, enhance mutually beneficial cooperation in trade and other fields, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, and jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas.

He reiterated that both India and China uphold multilateralism and are committed to promoting a fair and balanced multipolar world, adding that the two countries should work together to safeguard global economic stability.

Jaishankar also expressed India's full support for China in hosting the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Tianjin, and India's willingness to strengthen coordination and cooperation within multilateral mechanisms such as BRICS.