Xi Jinping Pushes for ‘Dragon-Elephant Tango’ to Boost India-China Ties on 75th Anniversary

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Xi Jinping Pushes for ‘Dragon-Elephant Tango’ to Boost India-China Ties on 75th Anniversary

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a stronger partnership between India and China, describing their relationship as a “Dragon-Elephant tango,” as the two nations marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties on Tuesday. In a message to Indian President Droupadi Murmu, Xi emphasized peaceful coexistence and deeper cooperation, signaling a renewed push to mend ties strained since the 2020 Ladakh border clash.

The anniversary saw an exchange of congratulatory messages between Xi and Murmu, alongside messages from Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The gesture reflects ongoing efforts to stabilize relations following years of tension along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Xi highlighted the need for both countries to work closely, stating that their partnership serves as a model for mutual success between major neighbors.

In his message, Xi stressed the importance of finding ways to coexist peacefully. “I am ready to deepen communication and coordination in major international affairs, and jointly safeguard peace in border areas,” he said, according to official reports.

This comes amid a series of high-level engagements, including the Modi-Xi meeting at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, last year, which set the tone for improved bilateral dialogue.

Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong revealed that Premier Li Qiang assured PM Modi of China’s commitment to enhancing trust and cooperation. “China stands ready to work with India, taking the 75th anniversary as an opportunity to promote exchanges and handle the boundary question properly,” Li said.

The messages underscore a shared intent to advance relations on a stable path, benefiting both nations’ populations, officials noted.

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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun echoed Xi’s sentiments, stating, “The historical course of our bilateral relations shows that being partners and the cooperative dance of ‘the dragon and the elephant’ is the right choice for both sides.”

He highlighted the strategic guidance from the Kazan meeting, noting that both countries are implementing agreements to foster cooperation and achieve positive outcomes.

Since the Kazan summit, India and China have held multiple rounds of talks. In December, NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met under the Special Representatives mechanism, followed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit to Beijing.

On March 25, diplomatic discussions in Beijing focused on border management and resuming cross-border exchanges, including the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and direct flights.

The Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination (WMCC) meeting saw both sides exploring measures to implement decisions from the Doval-Wang talks. A day later, MEA Joint Secretary Gourangalal Das and Chinese official Liu Jinsong discussed restarting dialogue mechanisms gradually.

The Ministry of External Affairs stated that these efforts aim to address mutual concerns and steer relations toward stability.

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