'Cooperative Partners Instead Of Rivals': China After Strategic Dialogue With India

Last Updated:February 11, 2026, 07:02 IST

India and China struck a conciliatory tone after their Strategic Dialogue, with Beijing saying the two sides should see each other as "cooperative partners instead of rivals".

India and China on Tuesday sought to project a stabilising tone in their ties, with Beijing stating that the two countries should view each other as “cooperative partners instead of rivals" and as development opportunities rather than threats.

The remarks came after a fresh round of the India-China Strategic Dialogue held in New Delhi between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and China’s Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, who is in India for BRICS-related meetings.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry and India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued separate readouts outlining the discussions, which ranged across bilateral ties, border stability, trade concerns and multilateral cooperation.

‘COOPERATIVE PARTNERS, NOT RIVALS’: CHINA

In its statement, Beijing said the two sides had held “friendly, candid and in-depth" talks on the international and regional situation, domestic and foreign policies, and the state of China-India relations.

“Both sides underlined that given the complex and profound changes in the international situation, China and India should work together to earnestly implement the important common understandings reached between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi," the Chinese readout said.

“Both sides should view and handle China-India relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, and uphold the strategic perception that China and India are cooperative partners instead of rivals, and the two countries are each other’s development opportunity instead of a threat," it mentioned.

It added, “China and India should deepen mutual trust and expand cooperation, properly manage differences, and promote the development of China-India relations along a sound and steady track."

The ministry also noted that the two sides agreed to back each other’s stints as BRICS chair in 2026 and 2027, support multilateralism and the central role of the United Nations, strengthen coordination among countries of the Global South, and work towards a multipolar world.

BORDER PEACE, TRADE AND PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE LINKS: INDIA

On the Indian side, the Ministry of External Affairs said the dialogue covered a “wide gamut" of bilateral, regional and global issues, with particular focus on stabilising and rebuilding ties and identifying ways to move engagement forward.

“Both sides underscored the importance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas for overall progress in bilateral relations," the statement mentioned.

“They reiterated their commitment to implement the guidance provided by their leaders, including on the need to proceed from a political and strategic direction to approach issues and concerns related to bilateral trade," it said.

Misri highlighted the successful resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and expressed hope that its scale would expand further.

Both sides, the MEA added, recognised the need to conclude an updated Air Services Agreement at an early stage and agreed to continue taking practical steps for visa facilitation and for boosting people-to-people contacts.

The Indian side also said that discussions included multilateral cooperation during India’s current chairmanship of BRICS.

“The Chinese side expressed its support for a successful BRICS Summit in India. EVFM also conveyed that China understands and respects India’s aspirations for UNSC membership," the MEA noted.

POSITIVE MOMENTUM, SENSITIVE ISSUES DISCUSSED

The two delegations reviewed the “positive momentum" in bilateral relations and discussed ways to further advance ties by enhancing people-to-people exchanges and addressing “sensitive issues".

The talks focused on steps taken by both sides to stabilise and rebuild relations that had been under strain since the military standoff in eastern Ladakh, and on ways to address concerns related to trade.

It added that the two sides again flagged the importance of peace along the Line of Actual Control for the broader trajectory of ties.

Misri and Ma, it said, also exchanged views on a range of regional and international issues.

The readout referred to the gradual improvement in ties following meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, including their interaction in Kazan in October 2024 and again in August 2025 on the sidelines of a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Tianjin.

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