During a recent event in Delhi celebrating China’s National Day, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong announced that relations between India and China have seen a “new level of improvement” following the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in Tianjin. He emphasized that the long-standing boundary dispute should not overshadow or dictate the broader relationship between the two nations.
Ambassador Xu, speaking alongside Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary of the External Affairs Ministry, highlighted the significant strides made in high-level interactions and people-to-people connections this year. This period marks a notable 76 years of the Communist Party government and 75 years of formal diplomatic relations between India and China, underscoring a renewed focus on bilateral engagement.
Both Prime Minister Modi and President Xi have met twice over the past year. Following a four-year hiatus caused by the military standoff at the Line of Actual Control, both nations have mutually agreed to reinstate flights, visas, and other crucial bilateral mechanisms, signaling a push towards normalization.
Emphasizing the importance of dialogue, Mr. Xu stated, “Bridging differences through dialogue has always been the important key to advancing China-India relations.” He urged that the historical boundary question should not define the contemporary relationship, nor should specific disagreements hinder extensive bilateral cooperation. This sentiment comes after New Delhi’s consistent stance during the LAC standoff that normalized bilateral relations could only proceed with a return to normalcy at the boundary.
Addressing an audience of diplomats and Indian guests, Mr. Xu reiterated that despite periods of fluctuation over the past 75 years, the overarching narrative of the relationship has been one of friendly cooperation.
Highlighting tangible improvements, the Ambassador noted that the Chinese Embassy has processed 265,000 visas for Indian citizens in 2025. Furthermore, the facilitation for Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrims has recommenced, with 700 official and 20,000 private pilgrims completing the spiritual journey this year. Economically, bilateral trade in goods saw a robust 10.4% year-on-year growth between January and August, reaching an impressive $102 billion.
These remarks represent Ambassador Xu’s initial public statements since Prime Minister Modi’s visit to China on August 30th, marking a significant seven-year gap since his previous visit and signaling a thawing of relations. Notably, just last month, the envoy had criticized the U.S. for what he termed “bullying” tactics against India through the imposition of 50% tariffs, affirming China’s commitment to supporting India in strengthening the global trading framework.
While India and the U.S. have since restarted trade negotiations, the American tariffs remain in place. Recalling Prime Minister Modi’s attendance at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, Mr. Xu highlighted President Xi’s proposal for a “Global Governance Initiative.” This initiative advocates for foundational principles such as sovereign equality, strict adherence to international rule of law, the active practice of multilateralism, and a fundamentally people-centered approach in global affairs.