Rapid Fire
75 Years of India-China Relations
- 04 Apr 2025
- 2 min read
On 1st April 2025, India and China marked 75 years of diplomatic ties, established on 1st April 1950.
- The Chinese President described India-China ties as a "Dragon-Elephant Tango", symbolizing coexistence, shared growth over rivalry.
75 Years of India-China Diplomacy
- India-China relations have evolved from ancient cultural and trade exchanges, including the spread of Buddhism via the Silk Road, to post-independence (1950s) symbolised by the “Hindi-Chini Bhai-Bhai” spirit.
- The Sino-Indian War (1962) led to a diplomatic freeze, but ties normalized in the 1980s–2000s through 1993 Agreement on Peace and Tranquility, 1996 Agreement on Military Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and growing trade.
- India and China maintain robust economic ties, with bilateral trade reaching USD 118.4 billion in 2023–24, and investments of over USD 3.5 billion in Indian unicorns.
- Cultural ties are reinforced through academic exchanges, and events like Tagore’s centenary seminar in 2025.
- Multilaterally, they collaborate in BRICS, SCO, G-20 and support initiatives like the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
- Key issues include the undefined 3,488 km LAC causing frequent clashes such as Doklam (2017) and Galwan (2020) and strategic concerns over China’s BRI and CPEC through PoK.
Read More: India-China Relations: Crossroads & the Road Ahead |