At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China. The visit has drawn global attention, as it could mark the beginning of a new era of cooperation between two ancient civilizations.
Together, India and China account for nearly 35% of the world’s population. Economically, China is the world’s second-largest economy, while India is poised to become the third-largest in the near future. In a recent meeting between Modi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, both sides agreed they are not rivals but partners, emphasizing that their collaboration is essential for the “Asian Century.”
The relationship between China and India spans over a thousand years, dating back to the Kushan Empire and Han Dynasty, when trade flourished along the ancient Silk Road. Beyond commerce, cultural and philosophical exchanges, particularly through Buddhism, enriched both societies. In the 7th century, the Chinese monk Xuanzang traveled to India, bringing back profound Buddhist knowledge.
India is currently the world’s fastest-growing major economy, boasting a youthful population, a rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem, and a burgeoning consumer market. China excels in infrastructure, manufacturing, digital governance, and renewable energy. If the two nations collaborate, the possibilities are limitless.
Historically, the 1955 Bandung Conference in Indonesia laid the foundation for modern diplomatic ties, where Asian and African nations, including India and China, committed to peace, cooperation, and mutual respect. Today, through platforms like BRICS, G20, and SCO, both countries can empower developing nations and counter unilateral actions destabilizing global markets.
China can play a constructive role in India’s next phase of growth through investments, particularly via the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), where India is already a major recipient of funds. Joint efforts in infrastructure, smart cities, clean energy, public health, and sustainable agriculture could harness the potential of their combined 2.8 billion people, addressing challenges from digital connectivity to climate change.
Despite recent border tensions, such as the Galwan Valley clash, the two nations maintained peace for nearly half a century prior, proving coexistence is possible. Modi’s visit offers a chance to draft a joint declaration or cooperation framework, fostering collaboration in tourism, academic programs, investment, green development, and digital technologies like AI.
As Modi meets Xi Jinping again this year, the vision of green development, multilateralism, and peace could take shape. China and India, as heirs to ancient wisdom and guardians of future potential, could forge a partnership that not only benefits their civilizations but also brings prosperity to the world for decades to come.
*Wang Huiyao is the founder of the Beijing-based think tank Center for China and Globalization. Translated and abridged from the South China Morning Post by Sarfuddin Ahmed.*
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