China on Monday appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's latest remarks on Lex Fridman's podcast regarding the Sino-India ties.
China said that a cooperative dance between the elephant and dragon is the only choice for both nations. Modi's remarks stressed favouring dialogue over discord.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that the "positive remarks" by PM Modi on China-India relations reflect the improvement and development of bilateral ties.
She also mentioned the successful meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan, Russia, in October. Strategic guidance for improving the ties was provided in the meeting, Ning added.
While speaking on the podcast, PM Modi emphasised strengthening India-China ties, saying that competition should not turn into conflicts and differences shouldn't be replaced by disputes.
The historical records show that India and China have learned from each other for centuries, said Modi. "Old records suggest that at one point, India and China alone accounted for over 50 per cent of the world's GDP...That's how massive India's contribution was," he added.
Though Modi acknowledged the differences between the two nations, he stressed that India is not looking to turn differences into disputes.
China and India have shared the task of accelerating their development and revitalisation and understand and support each other's successes, said Ning.
This serves the fundamental interests of over 2.8 billion people, meets the common aspiration of regional countries, and follows the historical trend of the Global South growing stronger and conducive to world peace, she added.
The two countries should be partners that contribute to each other's success and a "cooperative pas de deux", a ballet between dragon and elephant, is the "only choice for both sides", she said
China also shared its willingness to work with India to implement a common understandings between the two leaders.