'Ballet between dragon & elephant': China praises PM Modi's remarks on bilateral ties in Fridman's podcast

NEW DELHI: China on Monday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks on

India-China relations

, praising his emphasis on

dialogue over discord

.
Beijing described the relationship between the two nations as a "ballet between the dragon and the elephant" that must continue for mutual success.
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning acknowledged PM Modi’s "positive" comments and highlighted the progress in

bilateral ties

since his meeting with President Xi Jinping in Kazan, Russia. "China noted Prime Minister Modi's recent positive statement on China-India relations and appreciates it," Mao said at a media briefing. She reiterated that their meeting had provided strategic direction for both countries.
Furthermore, she underlined the historical interactions between the two nations, stating, "In the 2000-plus years of history, the two countries have maintained friendly exchanges and learned from each other, contributing to civilisational achievements and human progress." Stressing the importance of mutual growth, she added, "The two countries should be partners that contribute to each other's success, and a 'cooperative pas de deux,' a ballet between the dragon and elephant, is the only choice for both sides."

During his nearly 3-hour conversation with podcaster Lex Fridman, PM Modi expressed optimism about ties between the two countries, highlighting their shared history and the importance of ensuring that "differences do not turn into disputes." He noted that India and China once contributed over 50% of the global GDP and stressed that cooperation between the two nations is beneficial and essential for global peace and prosperity.
'Pragmatic approach'
The

Global Times

, a Chinese state-run daily, also praised PM Modi’s remarks, acknowledging his push for dialogue despite past tensions. The publication featured an article quoting experts who viewed PM Modi’s statements as a "pragmatic approach" towards balancing cooperation and competition with China. Qian Feng, director at Tsinghua University’s National Strategy Institute, noted that since the

Kazan summit

, both countries have taken "positive strides" in implementing key agreements, improving diplomatic and military communications, and maintaining

border stability

.
Addressing past conflicts, including the 2020 standoff in eastern Ladakh, PM Modi acknowledged in the podcast that tensions had existed but said his talks with President Xi had led to progress. "After my meeting with President Xi, we have seen a return to normalcy at the border. We are working to restore conditions to how they were before 2020," he said.
Earlier this month, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi also said that India and China should not allow their differences to dictate bilateral relations. "As two ancient civilisations, we have enough wisdom and capability to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas, pending a fair and reasonable solution to the boundary issue," Wang said.
He added that both nations should prioritise broader cooperation and avoid letting disputes define their relationship. "We should never allow bilateral relations to be defined by the boundary question or specific differences to affect the overall picture of our bilateral ties. China believes that as the largest neighbours, both countries should be partners in each other's success."
With the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and China approaching, Beijing expressed its willingness to work with New Delhi to implement key agreements and ensure stable and healthy ties. Mao reaffirmed this stance, saying, "China stands ready to work with India to advance bilateral ties on the track of stable and sound development."