Wang Yi has said the Asian neighbors should engage as partners rather than competitors

China-India diplomatic ties have improved over the course of the last eight months, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a meeting with Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval in Beijing on Monday.

Doval, who is also a special representative for the India-China boundary question, is in the Chinese capital for a meeting of national security advisers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). "China-India relations have made some positive progress," Wang said. "China and India should adhere to the important consensus of being development opportunities for each other and not posing a threat to each other, and being partners rather than competitors," he added.

The meeting between Wang and Doval is seen as the latest step in the diplomatic thaw between the neighbors that began after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks on the sidelines of the 2024 BRICS summit in Kazan. Relations had been strained since a 2020 border clash in the Himalayas claimed the lives of soldiers from both countries.

"It is essential that both sides further enhance communication, build mutual trust, and work toward resolving practical issues," the Chinese foreign minister said, while highlighting the potential for a win-win outcome when the two nations work together. "Only when the dragon and elephant dance together can there be a win-win outcome," he added. 

Doval expressed New Delhi's eagerness to work with Beijing in several areas. "India is willing to strengthen collaboration with China in multilateral fields and fully supports China's role as the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in hosting a successful summit," he said.

Wang also stressed the need for both countries to properly handle sensitive issues and maintain peace and tranquility in the border regions. 

In October of last year, the countries announced an agreement on disengagement from areas of tension and said they would work towards normalizing their relations. Following multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks, certain proposals to ease trade and investment restrictions between India and China have gained momentum, driven by industry demands.

The proposals include relaxing visa restrictions for Chinese nationals, reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers on certain imports, and resuming direct flights between the two countries. This week, a group of Indians crossed over into Tibet for the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra, one of the holiest pilgrimages in Hinduism. The pilgrimage, which traverses two sacred sites, was resumed after a five-year hiatus.