As India celebrates the 77th Republic Day, Chinese language President Xi Jinping issued a message on Monday, heaping reward on the ties between the 2 international locations, the official Xinhua information company reported. In his Republic Day greeting to President Droupadi Murmu, Jinping described India and China as “good neighbours, associates and companions”.
He reportedly referred to China and India because the “dragon and the elephant dancing collectively,” a phrase he has typically used to explain the relations between the 2 international locations.
Observe stay updates on Republic Day 2026 celebrations right here.
In keeping with information company Reuters, Jinping stated he hoped the neighbouring international locations would develop exchanges and cooperation and handle one another’s considerations to advertise stability in diplomatic ties.
Thaw in India-China ties
Jinping’s remarks come at a time when India and China are enhancing ties, that remained underneath pressure for 4 years after the 2020 Galwan Valley border conflict.
Nonetheless, diplomatic relations between India and China later improved, after a collection of high-level bilateral visits. The street to restoration of ties was carved out again in October 2024, when Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Kazan, Russia, throughout the BRICS Summit.
The 2 sides had agreed to finish the border face-off in October 2024. Months later, Exterior Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited China again in July and asserted that India and China ought to construct on “good progress” in normalising the bilateral ties to deal with border-related points, together with de-escalation.
What additional normalised ties was the resumption of Indian pilgrims’ go to to Kailash and Mansarovar in Tibet, and the easing up of visa procedures by each international locations. Extra not too long ago, direct flights between India and China additionally resumed.
Republic Day celebrations in India
A grand parade is deliberate in New Delhi’s Kartavya Path on Monday as India celebrates the 77th Republic Day. The day commemorates the adoption of the Structure, which got here into power on January 26, 1950.
The parade at Kartavya Path will start at 10:30 am and final for about 90 minutes. The theme of this 12 months’s Republic Day is “150 Years of Vande Mataram”.
Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Fee, will likely be chief visitors on the ceremony.
