Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

 
During a recent conversation with American podcast host Lex Fridman,MK sports Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a positive statement on China-India relations. He highlighted the deep historical ties between the two nations and underscored the need for dialogue over discord.

There have indeed been some positive signs of improvement in India-China relations lately. The two countries have notably stepped up high-level interaction and strategic communication, holding the 23rd meeting of Special Representatives for China-India Boundary Question in Beijing and the 32nd Meeting of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs in New Delhi, both in December. Prior to this, in November, the defense ministers of the two countries met in Laos on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus and both sides agreed on the significance of re-establishing trust and understanding through de-escalation of the situation at the border. In February, when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Johannesburg, South Africa, the two sides re-emphasized the need to take the common understandings reached between the leaders of the two countries as fundamental guidance.

However, at the same time, India has not yet substantially relaxed the artificial restrictions on people-to-people exchanges and economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Instead, it is still wavering on the issue of improving relations with China. In January, the two countries agreed to resume direct flights between the Chinese mainland and India, support the coordination and promotion of the competent departments of the two countries, and take measures to facilitate personnel exchanges and mutual dispatch of journalists between the two countries. However, to date, the two-way direct flights have not yet resumed. The resumption of direct flights is not a "gift" from the Indian side to the Chinese side, but a necessary prerequisite for the resumption of people-to-people exchanges.

When asked about whether India is considering making any changes to its policy on Chinese investments, India's Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran remarked that "it requires both sides to understand mutual dependence and benefits" and India is not expected to lift a ban on Chinese investments into the country soon, according to Reuters on February 11. Notably, it was also Nageswaran who had recommended foreign direct investment from China to boost its export market in the pre-budget Economic Survey released in July. However, in February, the Indian Ministry of Defense canceled a contract for 400 drones with China, citing concerns over the use of Chinese components. 

It is evident that the Indian side continues to verbally express a willingness to improve China-India relations, yet there are few concrete and effective follow-up measures in place. It appears they are waiting for a more opportune moment. At its core, the relationship between China and India revolves around how two neighboring developing countries with large populations coexist. Development is the main common ground for both nations, and India's greatest adversary is its own lack of progress.

In light of the current unstable international landscape and ongoing conflicts, both countries should recognize the historical trends and the direction of the bilateral relationship. This approach not only serves the fundamental interests of both nations and their peoples, but also resonates with the aspirations of many developing countries and the Global South. India and China should become partners that trust and respect each other, and help each other succeed. Moreover, they should earnestly implement the agreements reached during the meeting between the two sides in Kazan in November and take decisive and effective actions to swiftly remove the restrictive and discriminatory measures that impede normal exchanges. It is important to value the existing trend of easing tensions in the border areas and sincerely work toward guiding bilateral relations back to a path of sustained, stable and healthy development. 

The author is the director of the Department of Asia-Pacific Studies at China Institute of International Studies. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn