India and China’s Progress Rooted in Self-Reliance, Says Chinese Envoy Amid Subtle US Swipe

• Xu Feihong said India and China’s growth is driven by their own people, not external generosity.

• Remarks seen as a response to recent US comments on India-China comparisons.

• Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s rise is self-determined.

• Xu urged win-win cooperation and cautioned against “China threat” narratives.

• Called for youth engagement and stronger India-China coordination within the Global South.

In remarks that appeared to carry an indirect message for Washington, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong on Thursday underscored that the rapid strides made by both India and China stem from the determination and ingenuity of their own citizens—not from the benevolence of any outside power.

Speaking at the India-China Youth Dialogue, Xu highlighted the significant transformation both nations have experienced over the past few decades. He emphasized that these accomplishments were the result of sustained domestic effort, innovation, and engagement with the global community, rather than the outcome of external favors. His comments were widely interpreted as a response to recent observations by US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who had suggested that the United States would avoid repeating with India what he described as past missteps in its engagement with China, which enabled Beijing’s rise.

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had already addressed Landau’s remarks, asserting that India’s ascent on the world stage would be driven solely by its own capabilities and choices, independent of any other country’s experience.

At the youth forum, Xu framed India and China as two ancient civilizations now navigating pivotal moments in their respective national journeys. He described both countries as being in crucial phases of modernization and rejuvenation, urging that development should be anchored in self-reliance while also embracing constructive and mutually advantageous collaboration.

The ambassador called for a renewed focus on cooperative engagement, advocating what he termed a “win-win” approach to bilateral relations. Stressing the geographic and historical reality that the two nations are permanent neighbors, Xu cautioned against narratives that seek to widen divides between them. According to him, certain actors intentionally magnify disagreements and promote the notion of a “China threat” to serve their own strategic interests.

He encouraged young people in both countries to approach such narratives critically, urging them to move beyond echo chambers and cultivate a balanced and informed understanding of each other. In his view, youth engagement can play a meaningful role in strengthening ties and countering misperceptions.

Turning to the broader international climate, Xu noted that the global order is facing significant strain. He pointed to growing tendencies toward unilateral action, protectionist policies, and hegemonic behavior, arguing that these trends risk destabilizing established systems of cooperation.

Positioning India and China as influential voices within the Global South, Xu called for closer coordination between the two countries. By working together, he suggested, they could better safeguard the interests of developing nations and contribute to broader economic advancement across the Global South.

The ambassador’s comments come at a time of evolving geopolitical dynamics, where India, China, and the United States continue to recalibrate their relationships. Xu’s message blended a defense of China’s development model with an appeal for bilateral cooperation, placing shared growth and regional stability at the center of his address.