Cooperative dragon-elephant dance only right choice, says China as it appreciates PM Modi’s podcast remarks
| 2025-03-17
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks on the popular Lex Fridman podcast.
The two countries should be partners that contribute to each other's success, says the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Expressing “appreciation” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s positive statements on India-China ties, China has said that a “cooperative” dance between the elephant and dragon is the only choice for both nations.
Responding to a question during a media briefing in Beijing on Monday (March 17, 2025), Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning also said her country was ready to work with India to implement the important common understandings between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping.
“The two countries should be partners that contribute to each other's success. A cooperative pas de deux of the dragon and the elephant is the only right choice for China and India,” Mao Ning said.
During his conversation with Lex Fridman, an MIT research scientist and host of a popular YouTube podcast, PM Modi said the emphasis was on dialogue and not discord when it comes to India-China ties.
"If you look at historical records, for centuries, India and China have learned from each other. Together, they have always contributed to the global good in some way. Old records suggest that at one point, India and China alone accounted for more than 50 per cent of the world's GDP. That's how massive India's contribution was. And I believe our ties have been extremely strong, with deep cultural connections," the Prime Minister told Lex Fridman.
Acknowledging that there were some differences between the two nations, PM Modi said, “Our attempt is to ensure that these differences don't turn into disputes. We emphasize on dialogue, not discord… we actively work towards a stable, cooperative relationship”.
Prime Minister Modi also referred to the border issue, and said, “It is true that there have been ongoing border disputes between us. And in 2020, the incidents along the border created significant tensions between our countries. However, after my recent meeting with President Xi, we have seen a return to normalcy at the border”.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson also said the October 2024 meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan, Russia provided “strategic guidance” for the improvement and development of bilateral ties.
"Let me stress that in the 2000-plus years’ history, the mainstream of China-India interactions has been friendly exchanges and mutual learning. This greatly contributes to the progress of civilizations and humanity,” Mao Ning told the media briefing.
China stands ready to work with India to implement the important common understandings between the two leaders, take the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic relations as an opportunity, promote exchange and cooperation in various fields at all levels and advance bilateral ties on the track of stable and sound development, she added.
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