Brussels [Belgium]: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, while speaking at the GMF Brussels Forum 2025, said that a complex equilibrium has emerged globally as India and China have risen to power, noting that both countries also happen to be neighbours.
Jaishankar highlighted that apart from unresolved border issues, trade and economic matters also add to this intricate relationship.
“But be that as it may, you have a rise of China, you have a rise of India now each one is creating a certain new equilibrium between them and the rising power in the world and then a much more complex equilibrium between the two rising powers who also happen to be neighbors and who sometimes have common neighbours as well,” he said.
“So it is an incredibly complicated matrix and there are different dimensions to it, there’s the boundary dimension to it, there’s the balances if you would, there are economic issues, trade issues,” he added.
He further pointed out that the relationship between India and China is shaped by differences in economic systems, social values, and political models, which makes it far more layered than is generally perceived.
“There are concerns as we are in a way different economic, social values, models political models so when you look at this relationship it’s far more textured and complicated than it would appear at first sight where people really think that you have this country and that country and one will balance the other one will set off the other,” he said.
Jaishankar stressed that the unsettled boundary disputes are a major factor influencing bilateral ties.
“China- I mean it’s an obvious fact, but still I have to say- China is an immediate neighbour, okay, it’s a neighbor with whom we also have an unsettled boundary. So that’s a big factor in our relations,” he said.
Emphasising the historical and civilisational depth of the relationship, Jaishankar said that both nations have seen a parallel rise, though China began its modernisation process earlier.
“We have a situation where China and India, who stand out because they’re the only two countries with over a billion people, but also because they are two civilisational states in a way, they have a kind of parallel rise. The Chinese started their modernisation ahead of us because I think we had at that time governments perhaps who didn’t do what they should have done in those early years,” he said.
When asked if Europe remains naive about China, Jaishankar responded that Europe’s stance has evolved significantly over the past decade or more.
“I would honestly would have said no, but I would caveat that answer. When I’ve been coming to Europe pretty much continuously now for about 15 years. Europe 15 or even 10 years ago was in a very different place, so I would point to a certain evolution in Europe’s position and stance but I would also make the point it’s a very differentiated picture,” he said.
He also noted that not every European country has adapted at the same pace or with the same perspective.
“Not all of Europe is obviously moving on the same speed and on the same wavelength, so there are some which have a different view, some who are more hard-headed. I would make that distinction vis-a-vis China now,” he said.
In response, the interviewer remarked, “It sounds like sort of where we were with Russia 15 years ago as well.”
“Okay, you said it! I don’t disagree,” Jaishankar replied, prompting laughter from the audience.