Xi Jinping tells President Murmu China and India should be ‘good neighbours’ as he invokes ‘dragon and elephant’ phrase

Chinese President Xi Jinping on 26 January 2026 sent a congratulatory message to President Droupadi Murmu on India’s 77th Republic Day, framing India and China as “good neighbours, friends and partners”. In the message, Xi revived the metaphor of the “dragon and the elephant dancing together”, presenting it as the correct path for the two Asian powers.

The remarks were notable because they linked the state-to-state greeting with a broader geopolitical framing: cooperation between New Delhi and Beijing, Xi suggested, aligns with the fundamental interests of both countries and also carries implications for global peace and prosperity. The message positioned improved ties as beneficial beyond the bilateral equation.

Xi also emphasised the idea that the two sides should treat each other as partners for cooperation and opportunities for development. He called for stronger strategic communication, deeper exchanges and cooperation, and for both countries to address each other’s concerns as part of a stable trajectory in relations.

The greeting arrived against the backdrop of attempts to normalise the relationship after a period of strain following the eastern Ladakh standoff that began in 2020. Recent months have seen incremental steps and renewed diplomatic messaging, with both sides signalling interest in stabilisation while keeping core disputes unresolved.

For India, the message is a reminder that China continues to publicly project a cooperative narrative even as competition and security concerns remain central to the relationship. For the wider world, the symbolism matters because China–India dynamics influence Asian security, trade routes, global supply chains and multilateral institutions.