Mon Mar 17 11:56:30 UTC 2025: ## India and China Emphasize Improved Relations Following Modi-Xi Meeting
**New Delhi/Beijing –** India and China are publicly highlighting a significant improvement in their bilateral relationship following a recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping. Both countries have issued statements emphasizing mutual respect and a commitment to dialogue over disputes.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning lauded the “positive outcomes” achieved since the Modi-Xi meeting in Kazan, Russia, in October. She highlighted the two countries’ long history of interaction and the shared goal of accelerating development, noting that cooperation serves the interests of over 2.8 billion people and contributes to global peace. Ning reiterated Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s call for a cooperative partnership, describing the ideal relationship as a “pas de deux” between the “dragon and elephant.”
These comments follow PM Modi’s interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman, where he stated that normalcy has returned to the India-China border after his talks with President Xi. Modi confirmed that both countries are actively working to prevent differences from escalating into disputes, emphasizing the importance of dialogue for building a stable and cooperative relationship. He specifically noted the resumption of patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh after a four-year hiatus, a key indicator of de-escalation following the 2020 border clashes.
Modi’s assertion of a return to normalcy at the border, and the Chinese government’s positive response, signals a concerted effort by both nations to improve ties and manage their shared border challenges. The emphasis on cooperation and dialogue suggests a shift toward a more stable and potentially productive relationship between the two Asian giants.
First Piper 