Modi in China: From Dragon–Elephant to Global South

Modi in China: From Dragon–Elephant to Global South

From ‘dragon and the elephant’ to ‘pillars of the Global South’ – how Chinese media covered PM Modi’s visit

Dragon–Elephant to Global

Chinese state media offered extensive and thematically rich coverage of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China—his first in seven years—framing the engagement in metaphors and strategic narratives that underscore changing geopolitical dynamics.

“Dragon and the Elephant” Take Center Stage

Chinese outlets like The Global Times prominently featured President Xi Jinping’s resonant metaphor: “The dragon and the elephant must come together.” This poetic depiction evoked centuries of shared cultural legacy and signalled the importance of improved China–India ties mintThe Australian. Similarly, The Tribune quoted Xi’s phrase,calling it “a cooperative pas de deux of the dragon and the elephant” and suggesting it “should be the right choice” for both nations The Tribune+1.

Xi amplified this sentiment in his remarks, elaborating that China and India—“two ancient civilizations in the East,” “the world’s two most populous countries,” and important members of the Global South—shared a historic duty to uplift their peoples and strengthen developing nations. “It is the right choice… to have the dragon and the elephant come together,” he said The Financial ExpressDD News.

Emphasis on Global South Leadership

Beyond metaphor, Chinese media used Xi’s framing to project India and China as “pillars of the Global South.” Xinhua highlighted that both countries bear responsibility for Global South solidarity, sustainable development, and the progress of human society mintThe Tribune. In a similar vein, DD News quoted Xi stressing the need for multilateralism, a multipolar world, and democratization of international institutions—core themes aligned with Global South leadership aspirations DD News.

Key Highlights from Chinese Reporting

1. Strategic & Long-Term Outlook
   Xinhua focused on Xi’s call for strategic communication, deeper mutual trust, win-win cooperation, and ensuring that border issues don’t overshadow the bilateral relationship mintThe Tribune+1.

2. Border Stability and Connectivity |

   
   Reports noted agreements on border management, reinstatement of direct flights, and easing of travel and pilgrimage restrictions—especially the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra—as positive indicators of thawing ties Reuters+1The Financial Express.

3. Symbolism of First Visit in Seven Years
   Coverage emphasized that this was Modi’s first visit to China since 2018 and underlined the visit’s significance in resetting one of Asia’s most important bilateral relationships The Financial ExpressReuters.

4. Global Context: Responding to Western Pressures
   Chinese media framed the summit within the context of a shifting global order—highlighting Western trade pressures (notably US tariffs), and positioning India and China as collaborating to preserve strategic autonomy and uphold multilateralism Reuters+1The Tribune.

5. Journalistic Perspectives
   Chinese journalists added voices of nuance:

   • ANI quoted “Anjali” (Zhang Xiao), a Hindi-speaking Chinese journalist, urging deeper cooperation and emphasizing shared opportunities rooted in history and development trajectories The Tribune.

   • CGTN’s Wu Lei underscored that border issues shouldn’t define bilateral ties; instead, direct flights, economic, and people-to-people exchanges would drive the relationship forward. Wu also called the SCO platform pivotal for multilateral collaboration T