India-China: 70 Years of Diplomatic Relations

Year

Events

1950

·         India and China established diplomatic relations on 1st April 1950.

·         India was the first non-socialist country to establish relations with the People's Republic of China and the catchphrase ‘Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai’ became famous.

1955

·         Both countries attended the Asian-African Conference in which 29 countries participated in Bandung, Indonesia and jointly advocated the Bandung Spirit of solidarity, friendship and cooperation.

·         It has led to the decolonisation of the whole of Asia and Africa and to the formation of a Non-Aligned Movement as the third Way between the Two Blocs of Superpowers.

·         The First NAM Summit Conference took place in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in September 1961.

1962

·         The border conflict led to a serious setback in bilateral relations.

1976

·         China and India restored ambassadorial relations and bilateral ties improved gradually.

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 questions.

1992

·         Indian President R. Venkataraman visited China.

·         He was the first President who visited China since the independence of the Republic of India.

1996

·         Chinese President Jiang Zemin visited India.

·         He was the first head of state from China who visited India since the establishment of bilateral ties.

·         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.

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.

2008

·         "A Shared Vision for the 21st Century" was agreed upon by the two governments.

2010

·         The 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and India.

·         In December, the two countries issued a Joint Communiqué.

2011

·         It was the ‘China-India Exchange Year’.

·         Both sides held a series of people-to-people and cultural exchange activities.

·         Both of them signed a memorandum on joint compilation for the ‘Encyclopedia of India-China Cultural Contacts’.

2012

·         It was the ‘Year of China-India Friendship and Cooperation’.

·         The head of the governments met each other on the sidelines of the 4th BRICS Summit and the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

2015

·         The two sides met on the sidelines of the 7th BRICS Summit in Ufa, Russia and the Leaders' Meetings on East Asia Cooperation in Malaysia.

·         China decided to open the Nathu La Pass (Sikkim) to Indian official pilgrims to Xizang.

·         India celebrated the India Tourism Year in China.

2018

·         Chinese President held an informal meeting with Indian Prime Minister in Wuhan which set up a new model of exchanges between two leaders.

·         Indian Prime Minister visited China to attend the SCO Summit in Qingdao.

·         The two leaders met again on the sidelines of the 10th BRICS Summit and the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires.

2019

·         The second informal meeting was held in Mamallapuram, Chennai which reaffirmed the Wuhan consensus.

·         Both nations 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.

·         Both sides met on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek and the 11th BRICS Summit.

2020

·         It marks the year of 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, where the two sides agreed to hold 70 celebratory activities to demonstrate the historic connection between the two civilizations as well as their growing bilateral relationship.