Republic Day 2026: Xi Jinping Praises Improving India China Relations After Years Of Border Tensions

India's 77th Republic Day received a diplomatic note of goodwill from Beijing, with Chinese President Xi Jinping sending a message that emphasised cooperation and neighbourly ties between the two Asian powers.

The message comes as New Delhi and Beijing cautiously move forward after years of strained relations following the 2020 border standoff.

In his greeting to President Droupadi Murmu, Xi Jinping highlighted the shared responsibility of both countries to maintain stability and deepen engagement, according to reports by Chinese state media and international news agencies.

Xi calls India and China "good neighbours, friends and partners"

According to China's official Xinhua news agency, Xi described India and China as "good neighbours, friends and partners" in his Republic Day message. He also repeated a phrase frequently used by him to describe bilateral ties, referring to the two countries as the "dragon and the elephant dancing together".

Reuters reported that Xi expressed hope that India and China would expand exchanges and cooperation while addressing each other's concerns, stating that such efforts would help promote long-term stability in diplomatic relations.

Four years of tension after Galwan clash

Xi's remarks come after a prolonged phase of strained relations that followed the deadly Galwan Valley clash in 2020. The incident led to heightened military deployment and limited diplomatic engagement between the two sides, keeping relations under pressure for nearly four years.

A breakthrough began to take shape in October 2024, when Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Kazan, Russia, during the BRICS Summit. During that meeting, both sides agreed to end the border face-off, marking a key step towards restoring normal diplomatic engagement.

Diplomatic outreach and easing of restrictions

Following the Kazan meeting, bilateral engagement gathered momentum. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited China in July, where he said India and China should build on the "good progress" achieved in normalising ties and work towards addressing border-related issues, including de-escalation.

Several confidence-building measures followed. Indian pilgrims were allowed to resume visits to Kailash and Mansarovar in Tibet, visa procedures were eased by both countries, and direct flights between India and China were restored, signalling a gradual return to people-to-people exchanges.

Republic Day celebrations underway in New Delhi

India is marking its 77th Republic Day with a ceremonial parade at Kartavya Path in New Delhi. The parade, commemorating the adoption of the Constitution on January 26, 1950, is scheduled to begin at 10:30 am and will run for approximately 90 minutes.

This year's Republic Day theme is "150 Years of Vande Mataram". The celebrations are being attended by Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, as chief guests, highlighting the global dimension of the event.