Envoy calls for closer China-India ties at ceremony for 74th National Day

Ma emphasized the need to provide a fair, just, and non-discriminatory business environment for each other's enterprises, promote bilateral trade facilitation, work for an early resumption of passenger flights, and continue to enhance mutual understanding and people-to-people bonds. She also stressed maintaining contacts and exchanges in youth, culture, education, tourism, and other fields.

As the only two major developing countries with a population of over one billion and major emerging economies with broad development prospects, China and India shoulder increasingly important responsibilities in maintaining global stability and promoting common development, Ma noted in her remarks.

Communication has been key to easing historic border issues between the neighbors.

"The two sides maintained communication through diplomatic and military channels to move the border situation from emergency response to normalized management and control," Ma said.President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi both attended the recent BRICS Summit in South Africa where they had a conversation. BRICS consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The two leaders also attended the virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in July. Premier Li Qiang also attended the 18th G20 Leaders' Summit in New Delhi.