A rare moment of mutual respect between long-time rivals India and China has come to light. This follows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent “positive” remarks about India-China relations, which have been praised by China. Beijing stated that implementing the “Dragon-Elephant Dance” cooperation is the only correct choice for both nations.
During a regular press conference in Beijing on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning praised Modi’s comments. She said, “In over 2,000 years of exchanges between China and India, friendly interactions and mutual learning have been the mainstream, making significant contributions to global civilization and human progress.”
She further emphasized that as the two largest developing countries, their shared goal is national development and rejuvenation. Both nations should understand, support, and collaborate with each other, as this aligns with the fundamental interests of their combined 2.8 billion people. Such cooperation also meets the expectations of regional nations and supports global peace, stability, development, and prosperity. Mao Ning reiterated that achieving mutual success and realizing the “Dragon-Elephant Dance” is the only correct choice for both India and China.
Beijing’s remarks came after Modi’s interview with U.S.-based podcaster and computer scientist Lex Fridman. In the podcast, Modi stated that following recent discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, normalcy had returned to the India-China border after the 2020 Ladakh military standoff.
The Indian Prime Minister emphasized that his government is focused on ensuring that bilateral differences do not escalate into conflicts. He told Fridman, “We are actively working to prevent these differences from turning into disputes. Instead of isolation, we have emphasized dialogue. Only through conversation can we build a stable and mutually cooperative relationship that serves the best interests of both countries.”
The Chinese spokesperson also referred to the October 2024 meeting between Modi and Xi in Kazan, Russia, describing it as a strategic direction for improving bilateral ties.
In November 2024, after more than four years, Indian and Chinese troops resumed patrols along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. Patrolling had been suspended since the violent clashes at Pangong Lake and Galwan Valley in May-June 2020.
China has expressed its readiness to work with India to implement key agreements made by the two leaders. Additionally, Beijing sees the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to build a more stable partnership.