‘We are not rivals, but partners’ : China

China’s shifted pitch towards India
Also claims that conflict between the two nations is harming Asia

Beijing (China) – “India and China should maintain friendly relations as neighbouring nations and ensure peace and stability along their border regions. Both countries should also place greater emphasis on development and cooperation. India and China are important nations of the Global South (a grouping of developing countries outside Europe and North America) and share deep historical and cultural ties. Mutual trust and cooperation can accelerate the development of both nations, whereas conflict would be detrimental to Asia’s progress,” stated China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

🇨🇳 🇮🇳 China claims conflict is harming Asia and calls for a ‘partnership’ with India. 🌏

But history speaks louder than words. From the ‘Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai’ era to the loss of thousands of sq km of land, can trust be restored with rhetoric alone?Actions must come before… pic.twitter.com/zpRCubybHD

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) March 8, 2026

He made these remarks during the annual press conference held ahead of the session of China’s Parliament. India will host the BRICS summit this year (BRICS comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa; the grouping has recently expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates), while China will host the summit in 2027.

Wang Yi further stated that the 2024 meeting in Kazan, Russia, gave a fresh impetus to India–China relations, and subsequent discussions in Tianjin helped improve ties further. In recent times, diplomatic engagement, bilateral trade and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have increased. Bilateral trade has reached a record level, bringing tangible benefits to the citizens of both nations. He also emphasised that both countries should support each other in organising the BRICS summits.

After the military standoff at Doklam in Ladakh, India–China relations had remained strained for nearly five years. However, the process of normalising bilateral relations began, following the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan in 2024.

Editorial Perspective

Who can trust China, which once raised the slogan “Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai” and then treacherously attacked India, illegally occupying thousands of square kilometres of Indian territory ? China’s actions must validate its claims of partnership.