China hails India’s rising influence and power in Asia

In a positive signal for India-China relations, a Chinese diplomat on Thursday praised India’s growing influence in Asia, highlighting its strong performance in the 2024 Asia Power Index.

“India has become the third most powerful and influential country in Asia, after the US and China,” said Yu Jing, spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India, in a post on X, citing the annual index published by Australia’s Lowy Institute.

Released in September 2024, the Asia Power Index ranked India third in the region, surpassing Japan. The report credited India’s diplomatic influence, driven by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s increased international engagements, as a key factor in its rise.

Several leaders have attributed India’s growing global stature to PM Modi’s strategic leadership and foreign policy initiatives.

“India’s rise is no accident. This is the direct result of Prime Minister Modi’s aggressive diplomatic strategy and his bold ambitions to reshape India’s place in the world,” said Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri.

India’s rise in the Asia Power Index

The Asia Power Index evaluates 27 countries and territories across eight key measures, including economic growth, military capability, diplomatic influence, and future prospects. India’s strong performance in these areas has bolstered its position as a leading power in Asia.

The Indian government attributed its ascent in the rankings to three key factors:

• Economic growth: A rapidly expanding economy with strong future potential.
• Diplomatic influence: Active engagement in global and regional forums.
• Strategic positioning: A non-aligned approach allowing India to navigate complex international relations effectively.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting noted that India ranked sixth globally in diplomatic interactions in 2023, underscoring its active participation in multilateral forums.

Strengthening India-China relations

Relations between India and China have shown signs of improvement following a meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan in October 2024. Last month, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Beijing for high-level diplomatic talks.

Both nations agreed to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in 2025 and, in principle, to restart direct air services between the two countries.

Analysts believe that the Chinese diplomat’s public acknowledgment of India’s influence may be part of broader efforts by both nations to rebuild trust as they approach the 75th anniversary of India-China diplomatic relations in 2025. During Foreign Secretary Misri’s visit, both sides emphasized the need to strengthen public diplomacy and enhance mutual understanding.