India’s Ambassador to China, Vikram Doraiswami, has emphasised that the forthcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi presents a valuable opportunity to strengthen bilateral cooperation between India and China across critical domains such as trade, economy, climate action, public health, connectivity, and the digital sphere.

Writing in the Chinese daily Global Times, he underscored that a stable, predictable, and amicable relationship between the two nations, together representing 2.8 billion people, is not only vital for their populations but also serves as a pillar for global peace, stability, and prosperity.

He noted that the BRICS platform offers a constructive avenue to advance shared interests while contributing to a more balanced, inclusive, and equitable global order.

Doraiswami recalled Chinese President Xi Jinping’s remarks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year, where Xi affirmed that India and China are cooperation partners rather than rivals, and that both nations represent opportunities for each other’s development rather than threats.

The Ambassador stressed that this outlook is consistent with the long history of mutually beneficial exchanges between the two ancient civilisations.

Doraiswami highlighted that peace and tranquillity along the China-India border areas form the essential foundation of bilateral ties. He urged that relations must be guided by mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interest, ensuring that natural differences do not escalate into disputes.

He added that such an approach would allow the partnership to contribute meaningfully to the well-being of both peoples and to a more stable and prosperous world.

Tracing historical networks, he pointed out that India and China exchanged philosophy, medicine, and goods such as sugar, paper, and spices, thereby nurturing a legacy of mutual learning. He linked this to their respective paths toward national liberation, noting that the civilisational bond continues to shape modern interactions.

Turning to contemporary developments, Doraiswami presented India as a rapidly transforming nation marked by political stability and consistent growth of around 7 per cent.

He highlighted achievements under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, including universal electrification across rural and urban India, and the dramatic rise in financial inclusion, with bank account ownership increasing from about 40 per cent to over 80 per cent of the population.

He emphasised that India has virtually eliminated the need for cash transactions while simultaneously expanding its space sector, technological capabilities, and youthful innovation ecosystem, particularly in the Start-Up domain.

China, for its part, reiterated on Wednesday that it attaches high importance to BRICS cooperation and supports India in successfully hosting this year’s summit. The event is expected to see the participation of President Xi Jinping, further underscoring the significance of the gathering for bilateral and multilateral engagement.

The Ambassador’s remarks situate the BRICS Summit as a pivotal moment for India and China to consolidate their partnership, drawing from historical legacies, present achievements, and shared aspirations for a more equitable global order.

ANI