A beautiful reminder of how China and India shared art, faith, and culture centuries ago

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China, the Chinese embassy highlighted historical India-China ties by sharing Lord Ganesha images from the Tang Dynasty and Mogao Caves. This cultural gesture coincided with Ganesh Chaturthi and set a softer tone before Modi’s critical meeting with President Xi Jinping in Tianjin. The visit, Modi’s first to China in seven years, includes attending the SCO Summit and bilateral talks with Xi amidst global scrutiny, strained India-US relations, and hopes for renewed diplomatic cooperation.

In a symbolic gesture that underscores the historical connections between India and China, the Chinese embassy in India recently shared images of Lord Ganesha, a revered deity in Hindu culture, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China. The images featured carvings of Lord Ganesha dating back to China’s Tang Dynasty and paintings from the Mogao Caves, highlighting the centuries-old cultural exchanges between the two nations.

Yu Jing, the spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in India, took to the social media platform X to share the images, writing, “Ganesha’s image can be found in China’s Tang Dynasty and the Mogao Caves! A beautiful reminder of how China and India shared art, faith, and culture centuries ago.” The timing of this post coincided with India’s celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi, a festival dedicated to Lord Ganesha, and seemed to set a softer tone ahead of Modi’s diplomatic visit.

This visit marks a pivotal moment in India-China relations as Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin. The meeting, slated for Sunday, comes amidst a backdrop of strained ties between India and the United States, following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of steep tariffs on Indian exports. Sources suggest that Modi and Xi could engage in multiple rounds of discussions, with one potentially occurring before the official banquet at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.

The SCO Summit, which Modi will attend on Monday, is a significant diplomatic event that brings together 10 member nations, including key global players such as China, Russia, and India. Modi is also expected to have a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit. The summit is being closely monitored, given the current geopolitical climate and the delicate balance of relations among member nations.

This trip is Modi’s first to China in seven years and is being viewed as one of his most critical diplomatic engagements. With global attention fixed on the Modi-Xi meeting, the outcome of their talks could have far-reaching implications not just for India-China relations but also for the broader international community. The focus will likely be on finding common ground amidst ongoing tensions, including border disputes and economic competition.

The cultural overture of Lord Ganesha shared by the Chinese embassy serves as a reminder of the deep-rooted historical ties between the two nations. However, it also raises a question: can this shared heritage pave the way for renewed cooperation in modern times? As Modi and Xi sit down for discussions, the world will be watching to see if these ancient connections can inspire a new era of understanding and collaboration.

While the outcome of this visit remains uncertain, it is clear that the stakes are high. The cultural gesture of invoking Lord Ganesha’s image may have set the stage for diplomacy, but it is the conversations behind closed doors that will ultimately define the future trajectory of India-China relations.