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China has made a renewed pitch to strengthen its relationship with India by placing youth, innovation and cultural understanding at the centre of bilateral engagement. Addressing the fourth edition of the India–China Youth Dialogue in 2026, Chinese Ambassador, Xu Feihong urged both countries to move forward as constructive neighbours and support each other’s progress.
Describing his participation in the dialogue as a matter of great satisfaction, Xu highlighted the need to explore future pathways for cooperation between the two nations. He stressed that mutual respect between cultures remains essential to sustaining any meaningful partnership.
Cultural roots and youth engagement shape ties
Drawing on historical links, Xu recalled how Chinese Buddhist monks once travelled to India in pursuit of spiritual learning, underlining the long-standing civilisational exchanges between the two countries. He noted that young people have consistently played a central role in fostering these connections.
According to the ambassador, greater understanding between India and China would naturally bring their societies closer and strengthen trust. He described the youth populations of both nations as highly energetic and creative, capable of redefining the direction of bilateral ties if given the right opportunities.
In a gesture aimed at boosting engagement, Xu said China is open to welcoming Indian youth, signalling a willingness to expand exchanges and deepen people-to-people contact.
Shared growth and technological cooperation
Positioning the relationship within a broader development context, Xu observed that both India and China have achieved progress through sustained effort backed by local collaboration. He said the two countries are now at a decisive stage in their growth trajectories and should focus on enabling each other’s success.
He also pointed to India’s growing emphasis on artificial intelligence, suggesting that emerging technologies could become a significant area of cooperation. Encouraging joint efforts, Xu said innovation could serve as a bridge to strengthen ties and unlock new possibilities.
“We can work together to develop more innovations,” he said, adding that such collaboration could help both sides shape a new phase in their relationship.
Improving ties create new opening
The remarks come at a time when India–China relations have shown clear signs of recovery after years of strain. The shift began with a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 2024 BRICS summit in Russia.
This was followed by progress on disengagement along the disputed border and the resumption of special representatives’ talks in December 2024, the first such engagement since 2019. By 2025, these developments had translated into a broader normalisation of ties between New Delhi and Beijing.
With diplomatic channels stabilising, China’s latest outreach indicates a calibrated effort to rebuild confidence through softer avenues such as youth participation, cultural exchange and cooperation in emerging technologies.
