China Calls for Strategic Trust with India, Says Both Nations Are Partners, Not Rivals

China has called on India to view bilateral ties through a strategic and long-term lens, emphasizing cooperation over rivalry. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian highlighted stable border conditions, regional peace, and trilateral cooperation with Russia, while Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Moscow’s balanced partnerships with both New Delhi and Beijing.

China on Monday urged India to maintain a long-term strategic perspective in bilateral relations, asserting that the two countries should regard each other as cooperative partners and opportunities for development rather than competitors or threats.

The remarks were made by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian during a media briefing in Beijing while responding to a question regarding comments made by Russian President Vladimir Putin on China-India relations and Moscow’s efforts to maintain close ties with both nations. Putin had addressed the issue during an interaction with heads of leading global news agencies, including PTI, on Thursday.

Lin said the situation along the China-India border remains generally stable and that communication channels between the two sides are functioning smoothly. He emphasized that China and India should adhere to a strategic understanding that both countries are cooperative partners rather than rivals and that each nation presents development opportunities for the other rather than security concerns.

According to Lin, both sides should approach bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, strengthen mutual trust, expand cooperation, properly manage differences, and promote the healthy and steady development of China-India relations.

Addressing concerns in India regarding China’s close relationship with Pakistan, Lin stated that Beijing supports both India and Pakistan in resolving their differences through dialogue and consultation. He added that China encourages both countries to work together to preserve peace and stability in the region.

Commenting on relations among India, China, and Russia, Lin described the three nations as major emerging economies whose stable ties are important not only for their respective national interests but also for global peace, security, and stability. He said China is willing to maintain communication with both Russia and India to advance trilateral cooperation.

During his extensive interaction with global media leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. He stated that Russia’s long-standing partnerships with New Delhi and Beijing had developed naturally over decades and remain independent of one another.

Referring to relations between India and China, Putin described the issue as a delicate and multifaceted relationship, stating that external interference would not be appropriate. He noted that Russia maintains active engagement with both countries, which it considers friends.

Putin further said that President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are working to address all issues of mutual interest, including the long-standing border dispute. Highlighting Moscow’s strategic balance in Asia, he stressed that Russia’s expanding cooperation with India does not come at the expense of China, just as its deep partnership with China does not undermine its relationship with India.

The statements from Beijing and Moscow underscore the importance both countries place on stable India-China relations, regional peace, and broader cooperation among the three major Eurasian powers amid evolving global geopolitical dynamics.