'China and India should be partners of mutual achievement': Xi Jinping

China and India are major developing countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping has said, adding that the two sides should work together to strengthen practical cooperation in trade and other areas. In a congratulatory message to President Droupadi Murmu, Xi Jinping said both sides have sent congratulatory messages on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and China.

Right choice for India and China to be partners of mutual achievement

Chinese President Xi Jinping said that it is the right choice for India and China to be partners of mutual achievement, as is evident from the development of bilateral relations. Xi's remarks assume significance amid efforts by India and China to re-establish ties that were stalled for over four years due to the military standoff in eastern Ladakh in 2020.

Democracy should be promoted in international relations

In his message, Xi said both India and China are important members of the Global South and both are at an important stage of modernisation. Xi said the two countries should handle bilateral relations from a strategic high and long-term perspective, and work with each other to ensure peaceful coexistence, mutual trust, mutual benefit and common development. Xi said the two countries should jointly promote greater democracy in the multipolar world and international relations, he said.

President Xi Jinping pointed out that the development of China-India relations shows that it is the right choice for China and India to partner in mutual achievements and realize the "dragon-elephant tango", which fully serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and their people.

Ready to work together

On the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Xi said he is willing to take the opportunity together with President Murmu to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, deepen communication and coordination in major international affairs, and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the China-India border region. He also emphasized that both countries should contribute to world peace and prosperity.

Important members of the Global South, India and China

Describing India and China as ancient civilizations, Xi said both the countries are major developing countries and important members of the Global South. He said the two countries "are at a critical stage of their respective modernisation efforts".

Besides Xi and President Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also exchanged congratulatory messages, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiaqun told a media briefing here on Tuesday. "Today marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India.

Work continues to reduce tension on the border

China said in February that it was working with India for joint implementation of proposals to end the standoff in eastern Ladakh, which is the latest development in the process of reducing tensions on the India-China border. This comes four months after India said it had reached an agreement with China to withdraw troops from Demchok and Depsang. The withdrawal of troops was an attempt towards defusing the heightened tension along the border since the Galwan clash in 2020.