New Delhi — Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi pressed India on Monday to shed its adversarial lens and embrace a more constructive partnership, marking a notable shift in rhetoric after years of tense relations along their disputed border.
Wang, speaking during a meeting with Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi, said Beijing and New Delhi should “regard each other as partners, not rivals” and called for what he described as a “correct strategic understanding” of bilateral relations.
Indian officials responded cautiously but positively. Jaishankar said the talks were “candid and constructive,” adding that India was open to moving beyond a difficult stretch marked by border clashes and mutual suspicion. He stressed the importance of restoring trust, even as both countries remain wary of each other’s military positioning along the Line of Actual Control.
The visit by Wang Yi also included discussions with India’s national security adviser Ajit Doval, who characterized the current trajectory of relations as showing an “upward trend.” His statement underscored a growing sense in New Delhi that diplomatic engagement with Beijing could help relieve tensions at a time when India faces increasing economic and political friction with Washington.
India’s balancing act is becoming more apparent. While New Delhi has long sought closer ties with the United States and Europe, recent tariff disputes, pressure over oil imports from Russia, and American criticism of India’s independent foreign policy have pushed New Delhi to consider recalibrating. Beijing, for its part, appears eager to seize the moment, positioning China as an indispensable partner in a multipolar world order that does not depend on American approval.
Concrete issues were also placed on the table. Officials discussed reducing military deployments in contested zones, reopening suspended trade routes, reviving direct flights between the two countries, and restoring cross-border pilgrimage access. Technical cooperation, including data sharing on river flows, was also part of the conversation. These proposals suggest that both sides are searching for incremental trust-building measures that might prevent future crises.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of intensifying US-China rivalry and Washington’s own fraying relationship with India. For Beijing, warming ties with New Delhi could undermine Western strategies to isolate China. For India, a thaw with its neighbor may provide greater leverage in its dealings with Washington, while also securing a measure of stability on its northern frontier.
According to the BBC, Wang Yi’s remarks in New Delhi highlight China’s intent to reframe its approach to India at a time when geopolitical alignments are shifting rapidly, with both countries exploring whether pragmatic cooperation can overcome years of mistrust.
