Honorable Vikram Misri, Foreign Secretary of India,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

Good evening and Namaste!

It is a great pleasure to join all friends here today in commemorating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of China-India diplomatic relations. First of all, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in India, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all distinguished guests and express heartfelt gratitude to friends from all walks of life who have long cared for and supported the development of China-India relations.

Today, the leaders of China and India exchanged congratulatory messages to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized that both sides should view and handle China-India relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, and seek ways for neighboring major countries to get along in peaceful coexistence, mutual trust and mutual benefit as well as common development. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that the meeting between the two leaders in Kazan was instrumental in laying out a roadmap for our bilateral relations returning to a stable, predictable and amicable path. Progress in our bilateral relations will contribute not only to global stability and prosperity but also to the emergence of a multi-polar world.

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

Over the past 75 years, despite weathering ups and downs, China-India relations have always surged forward like the Yangtze and the Ganges. One learns from the past in order to understand the future, and follows the right path to go far. Looking back at the extraordinary journey of China-India relations, there are four inspirations embedded therein that are particularly worth drawing upon.

First, strategic guidance of our leaders serves as the ‘anchor’ for China-India relations. Over the past 75 years, the leaders of the two countries have consistently steered the relationship at critical historical junctures. In 1950, Chairman Mao Zedong and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru made the historic decision of establishing diplomatic ties, and India became the first non-socialist country to have diplomatic relations with China. In 1988, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited China, and the two sides agreed to “look forward”, initiating the normalization process of bilateral relations. Since 2013, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi carried out “hometown diplomacy” and two informal meetings, which propelled the bilateral relations into a period of rapid development. Last October, the leaders of our two countries met in Kazan, and opened a new chapter for China-India relations.

Second, friendly exchanges and cooperation form the ‘foundational fabric’ of China-India relations. Looking back through history, our two civilizations have flourished like twin lotuses, interconnected and mutually illuminating. The westward journey of Master Xuanzang seeking Buddhist scriptures and the eastward voyage of Bodhidharma spreading Zen teachings have become widely-circulated stories of exchanges between China and India. Our two peoples have sympathized with and supported each other in our respective struggle for national independence and liberation. Rabindranath Tagore and Dr. Kotnis have become timeless emblems of China-India friendship. Since the turn of the century, China and India have forged a strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity. During President Xi Jinping’s state visit to India in 2014, the two sides decided to build a closer developmental partnership. Under these important frameworks, the two countries have established nearly 50 dialogue mechanisms at all levels and in various fields. The bilateral trade volume has jumped from less than 3 billion US Dollars in 2000 to 138.5 billion US Dollars in 2024. Exchanges in culture, education, tourism and other fields has expanded continuously.

Third, bridging differences through dialogue stands as the ‘one and only key’ of China-India relations. As close neighbors, our peoples may sometimes have differences. As Prime Minister Modi said, when two neighboring countries exist, occasional disagreements are bound to happen. Even within a family, not everything is always perfect. But our focus is to ensure that these differences don’t turn into disputes. As two ancient civilizations, China and India both have the tradition and characteristics of cherishing peace and goodwill, as well as the wisdom and capacity to resolve differences through dialogue. Faced with the boundary question left over from history, the two sides have established communication channels such as the Special Representative Mechanism on the China-India Boundary Question, and strive to seek a proper solution. At the end of last year, the two sides pushed the border situation back to tranquility through intensive dialogue, marking the latest testament to China and India’s commitment to resolving differences through consultation.

Fourth, working for the future of the world is the “important mission” of China-India relations.President Xi Jinping once said, if China and India speak with one voice, the whole world will listen; and if we join hands, the whole world will pay attention. Historically, the two great civilizations of China and India have enriched each other, and the total economic volume of the two countries has long accounted for half of global GDP, making momentous contributions to human progress. After the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and India jointly advocated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, attended the Bandung Conference together, and promoted the independence and unity of Asian and African countries and the peaceful development of the world. At present, as vital members of multilateral mechanisms such as BRICS, SCO and G20, China and India should take the common responsibilities of safeguarding the rights and interests of developing countries, maintaining international fairness and justice, and upholding multilateralism.

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

At present, transformation not seen in a century is accelerating across the world, geopolitical conflicts keep escalating, and the mankind is facing unprecedented challenges. As the only two major developing countries and representatives of emerging economies with a population of over 1 billion, China-India relations have become one of the most crucial bilateral relations in the world. The sound and stable development of bilateral relations serves the fundamental interests of the two people, meets the common aspiration of regional countries, and is conducive to world peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Recently, China and India have earnestly implemented the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries. The two foreign ministers have met for several times on multilateral occasions. The 23rd Special Representatives’ meeting on China-India Boundary Question and the Vice Minister-Foreign Secretary Dialogue have been held successively. The two sides maintain communications on issues of mutual concern, such as the resumption of direct flights, visa facilitation, pilgrimage to the sacred mountain and lake of Xizang, and resident journalists, striving to achieve results as soon as possible. The bilateral economic and trade cooperation maintains good momentum. In the first two months of this year, the bilateral trade volume reached 23.6 billion US Dollars. The people-to-people exchanges are increasing. In the first quarter of this year, the Chinese Embassy and Consulate-Generals in India have issued over 70,000 visas to Indian citizens, with a year-on-year increase of approximately 15%. These figures fully demonstrate the strong motivation for exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

It is the common will of the two peoples and the unstoppable tide of history to advance China-India friendship and cooperation. China and India will gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. The “dragon-elephant tango” is the only right choice for both sides. We should adhere to the important consensus reached by the two leaders, and forge a right path for the two neighbouring major countries to coexist in harmony and develop hand in hand.

First, we should build a healthy and stable China-India relationship. Both sides should adhere to the strategic judgment made by the two leaders that “China and India are partners rather than rivals, and development opportunities rather than threats to each other”. We should uphold the principles of mutual respect, mutual understanding, mutual trust, mutual accommodation and mutual accomplishment. We should properly handle differences through dialogue, and never allow bilateral relations to be defined by the boundary question, or let specific differences affect the overall picture of bilateral ties, so as to ensure that China-India relations always move forward along the track of sound development.

Second, we should develop a mutually beneficial China-India relationship. Both China and India are at a critical stage of national development and revitalization. It is our common goal to develop the economy and improve people’s livelihood. China is actively promoting high-quality development and pursuing higher-standard opening up. India is committed to realizing the vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047”. We should strengthen the alignment of our development strategies, resume and promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and push forward the modernization of the two countries.

Third, we should forge an internationally cooperative China-India relationship. As important members of the Global South, China and India have the responsibility to jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and inject stability into a world fraught with uncertainties. As the rotating president of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization this year, China is willing to work with all parties including India to jointly hold a SCO summit featuring friendship, solidarity and fruitful outcomes, and lead the SCO into a new stage of high-quality development featuring stronger solidarity, coordination, dynamism and productiveness.

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

Mahatma Gandhi once said, I long for the day when a free India and free China will co-operate together in friendship and brotherhood for their own good and for the good of Asia and the world. Every time I think of these words, I feel deeply moved by his profound aspirations for China-India friendship and his enduring guidance for future generations. Indeed, the mighty tree of China-India friendship is deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples. Its thriving growth depends on all friendly forces, including you and me, to continuously water its roots and ward off pests. Let us join hands with clear visions, uphold the correct mindset, rise above distractions and dissonance, and work for the common well-being of the two peoples as well as the ever-lasting friendship between the two countries.

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

Now, I would like to propose a toast:

To the 75th anniversary of the establishment of China-India diplomatic relations,

To the friendship and prosperity of China and India,

To the good health and happiness of all friends,

Cheers!