Memorabilia of 70th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and India

On April 1, 1950, China and India established diplomatic relations. India was the first non-socialist country to establish diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China. “Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai” (meaning “India and China are brothers”) has become a catchphrase from that time and a much-told story in the history of bilateral exchanges.

In 1954, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai visited India. China and India signed the Joint Statement and jointly advocated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. In the same year, Indian Prime Minister Nehru visited China. He was the first head of government of a non-socialist country who visited China since the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

In 1955, Premier Zhou Enlai and Prime Minister Nehru attended the Asian-African Conference in which 29 countries participated in Bandung, Indonesia and jointly advocated the Bandung Spirit of solidarity, friendship and cooperation.

In 1962, the border conflict led to a serious setback in bilateral relations.

In 1976, China and India restored ambassadorial relations and bilateral ties improved gradually.

In 1988, Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited China, initiating the process of normalization of bilateral relations. The two sides agreed to “look forward” and develop bilateral relations actively in other fields while seeking a mutually acceptable solution to boundary question.

In 1991, Premier Li Peng visited India. The Prime Minister level mutual visits were restored after decades of suspension.

In 1992, Indian President R. Venkataraman visited China. He was the first Indian president who visited China since the independence of the Republic of India.

In 1993, Indian Prime Minister Narasimha Rao visited China. Agreement between the Government of China and the Government of India on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China Border Areas was signed.

In 1996, President Jiang Zemin visited India. He was the first head of state from China who visited India since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties. Both sides agreed to build a constructive partnership of cooperation oriented towards the 21st century. Agreement between the Government of China and the Government of India on Confidence Building Measures in the Military Field along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China Border Areas was signed.

In 2000, Indian President K R Narayanan visited China on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and India.

In 2002, Premier Zhu Rongji visited India. Both sides agreed to enhance mutual understanding and trust and promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

In 2003, Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee visited China. The two sides signed The Declaration on the Principles and Comprehensive Cooperation in China-India Relations, and agreed to establish the special representatives meeting mechanism on India-China boundary question.

In 2005, Premier Wen Jiabao visited India. China and India signed the Joint Statement and declared the establishment of the strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity. The two sides welcomed signing of the Agreement on the Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for the Settlement of the India-China Boundary Question.

In 2006, President Hu Jintao visited India. The two sides signed a Joint Declaration to formulate the ten-pronged strategy for deepening the strategic and cooperative partnership.

In 2008, Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh visited China. “A Shared Vision for the 21st Century” was agreed upon by the two governments.

In 2010, Indian President Patil visited China in May, which coincided with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and India. In December, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited India and the two sides issued a Joint Communiqué.

2011 was the “China-India Exchange Year.” Both sides held a series of people-to-people and cultural exchange activities, and signed a memorandum on joint compilation for the “Encyclopedia of India-China Cultural Contacts.” A 500-member Indian youth delegation visited China.

2012 was the “Year of China-India Friendship and Cooperation.” President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao met with Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh respectively on the sidelines of the 4th BRICS Summit and the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. A 500-member Chinese youth delegation visited India.

In 2013, President Xi Jinping met with Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the 5th BRICS Summit in Durban, South Africa in March. Premier Li Keqiang visited India in May and the two sides released a Joint Statement. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh visited China in October.

2014 is the “China-India Friendly Exchange Year.” In September, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to India and visited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat. The two sides issued Joint Statement on Building a Closer Developmental Partnership. In the same year, President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang met with Prime Minister Modi respectively on the sidelines of the 6th BRICS Summit in Brazil and the Leaders’ Meetings on East Asia Cooperation in Myanmar.

In 2015, Indian Prime Minister Modi visited China and went to President Xi Jinping’s hometown Xi’an. In the same year, President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang met with Prime Minister Modi respectively on the sidelines of the 7th BRICS Summit in Ufa and the Leaders’ Meetings on East Asia Cooperation in Malaysia. China decided to open the Nathu La Pass to Indian official pilgrims to Tibet Autonomous Region. India celebrated the India Tourism Year in China.

In 2016, Indian President Mukherjee visited China. Indian Prime Minister Modi visited China to attend the G20 Summit in Hangzhou and met with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines. President Xi Jinping visited India to participate in the 8th BRICS Summit in Goa and met with Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines. China celebrated the China Tourism Year in India.

In 2017, President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Astana. Prime Minister Modi visited China to attend the 9th BRICS Summit in Xiamen and met with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines.

In 2018, President Xi Jinping held an informal meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Wuhan. They had in-depth discussions and reached broad consensus on the overarching, long-term and strategic issues of global and bilateral importance and their respective visions for national development as well as domestic and foreign policies. The informal meeting set up a new model of exchanges between leaders of the two countries and became a milestone in the history of bilateral relations. In the same year, Prime Minister Modi visited China to attend the SCO Summit in Qingdao and met with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines. The two leaders met again on the sidelines of the 10th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg and the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires later in the year.

In 2019, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi held the second informal meeting in Chennai, reaffirmed the Wuhan consensus and agreed to build a closer partnership for development, enhance the in-depth strategic communication, promote mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, and advance exchanges and mutual learning between the two civilizations. In the same year, President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek and the 11th BRICS Summit.

2020 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India. It is also China-India Year of Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges. The two sides agreed to hold 70 celebratory activities to demonstrate the historical connection between the two civilizations as well as their growing bilateral relationship over the years, and further deepen people-to-people exchanges between the two countries at all levels, including between their respective legislatures, businesses, academics, cultural and youth organizations as well as the defense forces.