Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

As each other's important neighbors, and members of the Global South, China and India enjoy profound civilizational ties, and share extensive common interests, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference on Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China. He answered questions from journalists from home and abroad on China's foreign policy and external relations, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Wang made the remarks in response to a question regarding the current state of China-India relations, the progress in their improvement and the future trajectory given that relations between the two countries have returned to a normal track and India is serving as the chair of BRICS this year.

Wang said that President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a successful meeting in Tianjin last August. Building on the fresh start enabled by their Kazan meeting in 2024, it brought about further improvement in China-India relations. Both sides are earnestly implementing the important understandings of our leaders. We are heartened to see reenergized interactions at all levels, a new record in bilateral trade, and closer people-to-people exchanges. All this has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples.

As each other's important neighbors, and members of the Global South, China and India enjoy profound civilizational ties, and share extensive common interests. Wang said. Mutual trust and cooperation is beneficial to the development of the two countries, while division and confrontation is detrimental to the rejuvenation of Asia.

The two sides should follow the direction set by our leaders, remove interference, and advance toward the same goals, Wang said, outlining four perspectives.

First, we must maintain the correct strategic perception of each other as partner rather than rival, and opportunity instead of threat. Second, we must uphold good-neighborliness and friendship, and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the border areas. Third, we must focus on development, which is the biggest common denominator of our two countries, and produce more visible outcomes of practical cooperation. Fourth, we must step up to the plate, and support each other's BRICS presidency over the next two years, so as to make BRICS cooperation more substantive and bring new hope to the Global South.

Global Times