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India-China relations
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Modi and Xi meet Map showing the Silk Road network at its peak between 700 and 900 CE, spanning Eurasia and North Africa. It highlights primary overland trade routes in pink, secondary routes in orange, and sea routes in blue, connecting cities such as Chang'an (Xi'an), Samarkand, Baghdad, Constantinople, Venice, and extending to ports along the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, and East Asia. Modern international boundaries are also outlined. Zhou Enlai wearing a dark jacket and cap, looking slightly to the side with a neutral expression. Jawaharlal Nehru, c. 1930s Deng Xiaoping Atal Bihari Vajpayee India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi stands at a podium with BJP party symbols and images of other leaders, addressing supporters at an indoor political event in Davangere, India. President of China Xi Jinping in a dark suit and red tie speaking at a podium with two microphones. Handshake Black and white photograph of Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai left with Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru during Zhou Enlai visit to India on April 21, 1960.
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Modi and Xi meet
Modi and Xi meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) shaking hands with Chinese Pres. Xi Jinping, Tianjin, China, August 2025.

India-China relations

international relations
Written by
Andrew Pereira
Andrew Pereira is a senior editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. He covers a variety of topics, with a focus on Indian politics, foreign policy, and global affairs.
Andrew Pereira
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
History

Ties between India and China have been among the most consequential in international relations, particularly during the 20th and 21st centuries. Civilizational contacts between the two neighbors go back thousands of years and span several domains, including diplomacy, trade, security, and culture. The two countries share a lengthy disputed border along the Himalayas: India claims it to be about 2,100 miles (3,400 km) long, while China claims it to be about 1,240 miles (2,000 km)...

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