China Praises India’s Rising Influence in Asia; Diplomat Highlights PM Modi’s Diplomatic Strategy

In a sign of improving relations between the two countries, a Chinese diplomat on Thursday praised India’s ascent in the Asia Power Index, released last year. Yu Jing, spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India, acknowledged India’s rise as the third most powerful and influential country in Asia, following the United States and China.

“India has become the 3rd most powerful and influential country in Asia, after the US and China,” Yu Jing posted on X, citing the 2024 Asia Power Index by Australia’s Sydney-based Lowy Institute. The report, released in September 2024, highlighted India’s remarkable improvement in various categories, particularly in Diplomatic Influence, which surged due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s increased international engagements.

India’s rise to the third spot in the Asia Power Index, overtaking Japan, has been attributed to PM Modi’s visionary leadership and global strategy. Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, emphasized that this ascent is the result of Modi’s aggressive diplomatic strategy and ambitious efforts to reshape India’s place in the world.

“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. Without his leadership, India would still be languishing behind, but today, we see a nation on the verge of superpower status,” Puri stated.

The Asia Power Index by the Lowy Institute consists of eight measures of power, 30 thematic sub-measures, and 131 indicators. It ranks 27 countries and territories based on their capacity to shape their external environment, covering regions from Pakistan to Russia, and from Australia to the United States.

The Indian government identified three major factors behind India’s rise in the index: economic growth, future prospects, and diplomatic influence. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting highlighted that PM Modi’s leadership has gained greater international recognition and that India’s non-aligned strategic position has allowed it to navigate complex international waters effectively.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership has gained greater international recognition. India’s non-aligned strategic position has made it possible for New Delhi to effectively navigate complex international waters. India ranked sixth in terms of diplomatic interactions in 2023, reflecting its active participation in multilateral forums,” the ministry stated.

#### Improving 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 a meeting of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Foreign Minister mechanism between India and China. During the meeting, both sides agreed to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in the summer of 2025 and to resume direct air services between the two countries.

Analysts believe that the Chinese diplomat’s recent praise of India’s influence could be part of efforts to utilize 2025—the 75th anniversary of the establishment of India-China diplomatic relations—to enhance public diplomacy, create better awareness about each other, and restore mutual trust and confidence among the public.