India-China relations over the past year have improved from a “reset and fresh start” to a “new level of development”, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong said on Friday (June 5, 2026), calling for accelerated efforts towards a “full normalisation” of relations and to address a “serious deficit of trust”.

Speaking at The Hindu Huddlein Bengaluru in conversation with The Hindu’s Diplomatic Editor Suhasini Haidar, Mr. Xu said the two leaders — Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping — had played “a leading role in providing strategic guidance for relations between our two countries.”

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“Both President Xi and Prime Minister Modi attach great importance to bilateral ties and view relations from the strategic and long-term perspective,” he said.

“The diplomatic teams of two sides have been working very hard to step up communication and cooperation at various levels to advance implementation of the important common understandings between the two leaders. I would say the leaders have led relations from a reset and fresh start to a new level of development.”

‘Tangible progress, not yet fully normalised’

Mr. Xu said he was “very glad to see the gradual and tangible progress” both sides had made recently, including through easing of restrictions on investments from China, resumption of the Kailash-Mansarovar yatra for Indian pilgrims, resumption of direct flights between several cities, and other measures. At the same time, he said ties were not yet fully normalised.

“It is true we have made progress and (made) improvement in relations, but the full normalisation of our ties still calls for joint and continuous efforts from our two countries,” Mr. Xu said. “China-India relations are one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world. The importance of relations extends beyond the bilateral scope and carries global strategic significance.”

‘Happy to see easing restrictions on Chinese investment’

He said the Chinese side was “happy to see the Indian side has gradually eased restrictions on Chinese investment”, referring to the restrictions imposed in early 2020, at the start of the pandemic, following the issuing of Press Note 3. He did, however, add that this was not yet a “complete” easing of measures.

Calling for more people-to-people ties, he said “the deficit of trust remains serious” between the two countries. “Exchanges between the policy-making bodies are not enough. China and India have nearly 50 government to government dialogue mechanisms, unfortunately most of them remain stalled,” he said, adding that China was “ready to resume exchanges with India in various fields and at various levels.”

‘Border situation is stable, peaceful’

On the boundary question and the rupture in ties following the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, (after Galwan clashes), Mr. Xu said both sides had held several rounds of recent talks, including most recently, last week in Beijing when both sides held the 35th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on border affairs. Both countries in Beijing discussed issues related to border delimitation, border management, mechanism building and cross-border cooperation.

“Currently the border situation is generally stable and peaceful,” Mr, Xu said. “I think the boundary question is an important one and we should handle it properly. The boundary question is very complex and sensitive and left over from history. It concerns the sentiments of the two peoples and requires dialogue and consultation to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution. China and India as two ancient civilisations have the wisdom and capability to find effective ways to accommodate each other’s core interests and major concerns, and properly settle differences through dialogue.”

China’s stand on India and Pakistan

Questioned on China’s relations with Pakistan, including its provision of assistance to the Pakistani military during Operation Sindoor which raised concerns in India, Mr. Xu said China “hopes India and Pakistan seek resolutions on their differences through negotiation and dialogue.”

“Geographically you can never be separated from each side,” he said. “Good relations will benefit the two countries, two peoples and will be conducive to maintain peace, development and prosperity of this region. That’s why we support India and Pakistan to settle differences through negotiation and dialogue.”

China, he said, was also “actively participating” in BRICS and supporting India’s hosting of the BRICS Summit later this year. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are among leaders expected to attend.

On whether Mr. Xi will visit New Delhi for the summit on what would be his first visit to India since the 2019 Mamallapuram summit, he said, “China, together with all member countries, is fully getting prepared for this very important occasion. There are three months for us to get prepared, so I cannot give you a very exact answer, but I hope you will stay tuned.”

The Hindu Huddle is presented by the Sami-Sabinsa Group as the Presenting Partner. The event is co-powered by the Government of Telangana and held in association with Khaja Bandanawaz University.

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