China's Foreign Minister's trip to India is of great significance: China

"From this visit, we know that Sino-India relation is now in a new age of gearing up," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing here.

"I believe that Foreign Minister's visit sent the following messages, that is, Chinese leaders pay attention to growing relations with India, common interests between the two countries far outweigh disputes.

"We are natural partners rather than rivals and the Chinese and Indian dream integrate with each other, so we should build closer development partnership with each other," she said.

Besides holding talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Wang also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and called on President Pranab Mukherjee during his stay in New Delhi in the last two days.

"Indian leaders also responded positively," Hua said, pointing to the observations by Mukherjee that the two countries which had a combined population of 2.6 billion people make the most magnificence map in the human civilisation.

Modi said that Wang brought important messages from President Xi Jinping to chart a new course for the development of India and the two sides should maintain development, cement practical cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, so as to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas, Hua stated.

"Therefore, we believe that Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to India at this time is of great significance. We expect to make joint efforts with India to bring our amicable and friendly relations with India to a new high," she said.

"We believe that the development of Sino-India relations are not only in the benefits of the two people but will also help peace, stability and development of the region and beyond," she said.

A commentary in the state-run Global Times by China's veteran strategic analyst Ma Jiali said "India is a weighty strategic and cooperative partner of China" and Wang has established the direct high-level political contact with the Modi government.

"Modi has been making overtures to China. He has invited Xi to visit India later this year," he said.

"China is taking the diplomatic initiative in dealing with India given the strategic significance of the bilateral relationship. We must clearly send a positive signal to the new Modi government about our willingness to further cement ties with India," he said.

"The bilateral relations are still dogged by mutual suspicion and border disputes have long been a contentious point, which are bound to affect the bilateral relationship," he said.

Modi accused China of its "expansionist mindset" at an election rally earlier this year over the China-Indian border issue.

"Nonetheless, as long as both sides have a keen interest in solving the issue and are willing to negotiate with great sincerity, it won't be a big issue," Ma said.

"Modi secured great economic success as chief minister of Gujarat and he visited China four times during his tenure. Putting development and growth on the top agenda, the prime minister has vowed to rejuvenate the ailing economy," he said.

This spurs optimism about the likelihood of boosting ties, he said.

Modi must bridge the deficit by optimising the mix of export commodities and seeking greater access to the Chinese market, he said.

China hopes for balanced trade between the two and hopes to import more goods from India which are adaptable to the Chinese market and have competitive prices, he said.

"China has high expectations of the new Indian government and takes an active posture to promote ties, which will hopefully lead to more mutual visits by top officials from the two sides," Ma said.