China sees India ties entering new trust-building phase after Modi-Xi talks

Chinese official media outlets have portrayed the recent meeting between India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China's President Xi Jinping as marking a significant milestone in bilateral relations, suggesting the countries are entering a fresh phase focused on confidence-building measures.

According to reports in China's Global Times, the third consecutive year of direct talks between the two leaders signals renewed momentum in India-China engagement. The repeated diplomatic interactions are being interpreted in Beijing as indicative of a broader commitment to strengthening ties despite persistent differences between the Asian neighbours.

Chinese analysts have identified several areas of tangible progress warranting optimism. Wang Shu, a policy expert cited in state media coverage, pointed to advancements in border management, cross-border trade expansion, resumption of direct flights, and enhanced people-to-people exchanges as positive developments. These domains have historically been contentious between the nations, making progress on them symbolically significant.

The emphasis on practical cooperation mechanisms suggests both countries are prioritizing incremental confidence-building over broader strategic differences. Border management improvements and expanded connectivity have been framed as foundational steps toward normalizing relations that have been strained in recent years.