China-India ties at crucial stage of improvement: Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong

In a significant remark, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong has stated that relations between India and China are at a "crucial stage of improvement."

His comments follow recent high-level meetings between top ministers from both nations, signalling potential progress in their bilateral relationship.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar twice in the past two months and met with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval a few days ago.

The Chinese ambassador explained that they "had in-depth communication" and reached "important consensus on the improvement" of bilateral relations. He added, "We are fully confident about the future of our bilateral relations."

Ties between the two neighbours have been strained since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Both sides also held a Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs, with a focus on narrowing down the differences and finding early resolution of border issues.

India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar recently pointed out that 75 per cent of disengagement at the border has been achieved.

Following the remarks by EAM Jaishankar, the Chinese restated that disengagement has been achieved in fourareas in the western sector, including Galwan. The disengagement in these areas has been public knowledge for some time now.

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Not only the border, India's big worry also remains the huge trade deficit with China. The Chinese ambassador stated, "The economic and trade structures of China and India are highly complementary. We welcome more Indian commodities to enter the Chinese market, and more Indian enterprises to invest in China."

In October, Prime Minister NarendraModi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be attending the BRICS summit in Russia's Kazan. While it is too early to say if both sides will hold any formal meeting, at last year's summit in South Africa, the Indian and the Chinese leaders had a brief conversation.