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Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Chinese President Xi Jinping (Img: Pinterest)
New Delhi: China has welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s position that India follows an independent foreign policy, in a fresh indication of improving diplomatic engagement between the two countries after his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Beijing’s remarks came two days after Modi and Xi held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The meeting focused on putting India-China relations on a stable and long-term path.
China said it values Modi’s statements on India-China relations and welcomed India’s independent approach to foreign policy.
Beijing’s response is significant because India has consistently maintained that its foreign policy decisions are guided by its own national interests and are not dictated by any external power.
China has also stressed that better India-China relations serve the interests of both countries and their people.
Modi and Xi met during the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, with both sides discussing the broader direction of bilateral ties.
The two leaders agreed that India and China should take a strategic and long-term view of their relationship. They also stressed that differences between the two countries should not turn into disputes.
The meeting was closely watched because Xi’s visit marked his first trip to India in seven years. The talks came after years of tensions between the two countries, particularly following the 2020 border clash.
China has stepped up its positive messaging following the Modi-Xi meeting.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said India and China should view each other as partners rather than rivals. Beijing has described this as an important consensus reached by the two leaders.
The latest remarks suggest that both sides are seeking to prevent differences from derailing the wider relationship.
India’s strategic autonomy has remained a central feature of its foreign policy, with New Delhi maintaining relations with countries across competing geopolitical blocs.
China’s decision to specifically welcome Modi’s position comes at a time when Beijing and New Delhi are trying to rebuild confidence and expand engagement.
However, the improvement in political ties does not mean that all differences between the two countries have disappeared. Border-related concerns, trade and other strategic issues remain important parts of the bilateral relationship.
For now, the message from Beijing is clear: China wants to build on the latest Modi-Xi engagement and keep the focus on a more stable India-China relationship.
