Acknowledging that prospering socio-economic ties will mutually benefit both nations, in a rare show of solidarity, leaders of both China and India recently publicly declared the strategic importance of their neighbor to their own growth and development. On two separate occasions, senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Zhou Yongkang who was visiting Sonia Gandhi and other top Indian leaders as well as National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon hoped both sides could deepen the strategic cooperative partnership further, strengthen practical cooperation in various fields, and increase personnel exchanges at different levels.

Invoking historical ties, times of friendship and camaraderie both advocates of India-China solidarity, Zhou and Menon highlighted the importance of friendship between the two nations. While India said its relations with China are “under-utilised”, CCP leaders maintained that development in the two countries should be viewed as an “opportunity rather than a threat”.

Coming a few months after Indian media bequeathed war between the two largest Asian nations, US President Barack Obama’s visit to India to strengthen ties and China’s proximity with Pakistan the common show of solidarity between India and China comes as a welcome reprieve. It shows the willingness of China and India to work together towards a common goal, to develop a symbiotic relationship  and build a world where both can prosper.