Indian TV Interviews Wang Huiyao on China-India Relations
August 13 , 2025As top diplomats from China and India meet in New Delhi ahead of a potential visit to China by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in seven years, the Centre for China and Globalisation (CCG) is sharing an interview with its president, Henry Huiyao Wang, on Republic TV, a leading English-language news channel in India. The interview, uploaded to YouTube on Aug. 14, featured Wang in conversation with Republic TV’s Executive Editor Niranjan Narayanaswamy. Wang said India and China “should really stand up and work together to safeguard the multilateral system” and emphasised that Modi’s long-overdue trip to China could “generate some positive results.”
▲ Indian TV Interviews Wang Huiyao on China-India Relations
Below is the full transcript of the interview. Neither of the speakers has reviewed the transcript.
Niranjan Narayanaswamy, Executive Editor, Republic TV
It’s been a while since India and China sat across the table and had a genuine conversation, one that’s not hostile and one that’s not cold. And with the recent tariff issue vis-à-vis Trump and America, the BRICS nations have come closer than ever before.
I have someone very interesting with me on Republicworld.com today. His name is Dr. Henry Huiyao Wang. He’s joining me live from Beijing. Dr. Henry is the founder and the president of the Centre for China and Globalisation (CCG), and he’s also the former counsellor to China’s State Council. So he knows a thing or two about Chinese foreign affairs and what this moment means for India, China, and the Global South.
Thank you, Dr. Henry, for speaking to Republic TV.
Henry Huiyao Wang, Founder & President, CCG
Thank you, moderator. Absolutely. I think we are getting to a turbulent time. China often says we are seeing changes unseen in a century, because the world has been greatly disrupted. This year marks 80 years of the establishment of the UN. The world we are familiar with has lifted so many billions of people out of poverty, but the system we have gotten used to is really in danger now. We see unilateralism being practised by the United States, and President Trump actually wants to upend, or maybe reboot, the global system in a different direction.
So, I think we have a lot of challenges. India, of course, feels that, China feels the same. The EU, Japan, South Korea—you name it. A wide range of countries in the world all have this kind of disruption. But I think you’re right. It’s time that big countries like China, India, and the Global South, including the European Union, should really stand up and work together to safeguard the multilateral system. Even though it’s not perfect, we should practice more free trade and also resist the pressure that is unilaterally put upon all of us.
I think this is high time that we get together, meet each other, compare our notes, and say: let’s really do things that are good for our world, and let’s really make things happen. So I think this is an absolutely crucial time, a crucial moment, and we are really expecting Prime Minister Modi’s visit to China, which has been overdue for a long time. But I’m very glad to see the two biggest, most populous countries are now getting together, and I’m sure this meeting will generate some positive results.
Niranjan Narayanaswamy
But I’m going to go straight, Dr. Henry, to the elephant in the room. I’ll be very honest with you. Here in India, we’ve had a war with Pakistan. It’s called Operation Sindoor. It’s a short war, but a lot of things have happened from the Pakistan end. There was a terrorist attack, and we know where those terrorists came from. There was an investigation.
Now, there is a feeling in India, and some of our generals also have gone on record, that China perhaps gave some support to Pakistan in this war. Now, when it comes to China and India relations, there is Pakistan, which has suddenly become a thorn, if I can say that, for the relation between India and China. How do you see China tackling this Pakistan issue?
Henry Huiyao Wang
Well, China, as we all know, wants to maintain friendly and peaceful relations with all its neighbours. That’s for sure. China and Pakistan have had good relations for decades, and unfortunately, we have seen some ups and downs in China–India relations. But I’m sure China wants to get along with India as well. India is a much larger and much more influential country, and one of the biggest neighbours to the south of China. I don’t see a reason why China can’t get along with India, or India can’t get along with China.
Once we have this South Asia relationship going, for example, let’s resolve differences in the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or in BRICS. We are all members of those, and I’m sure China could play a mediating role between India and Pakistan, like China did with Cambodia and Thailand recently, and with Saudi Arabia and Iran a few years ago. I’m sure China has the best interest in maintaining good relations with both India and Pakistan. Things have happened in the past, there have been ups and downs, but we should all look at this with new perspectives and new solutions.
Niranjan Narayanaswamy
Do you think—because you’ve also been close to the establishment in China—do you think that it’s possible? Is that the mood also in Beijing, that hopefully, when the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, comes there in the next few months, there is a possible reset? Is a reset really possible vis-à-vis China and India?
Henry Huiyao Wang
I think it’s totally possible. Why not? We used to enjoy good relations. We established diplomatic ties since China was established in 1949. We have 75 years of good diplomatic relations. And we share a long history between the two countries. I remember the first Chinese student who went abroad was Xuanzang, who went to India to bring Buddhism back to China. We learned a lot from India. So I see no reason.
Then, there are so many similarities. We face the same environmental challenges, infrastructure challenges, telecom and manufacturing opportunities. There is so much complementarity. I do think that China doesn’t have to look very far—just look to the southern border with India. We could do a miracle. We could do a lot of good things together. I see this as high time that we reset. We should put the 2.8 billion people’s interests in mind. That’s a huge chunk out of the 8 billion in the world. It’s so important, so powerful. If China and India can join hands—of course, not at the expense of other countries, but for our own interests—we can do much better than what we are doing now.
Niranjan Narayanaswamy
Okay, let me ask you a question. Now, I’m asking you this question as someone who heads a think tank in China. Because it’s current, it’s just happened. You have the Pakistani army chief, who is now a Field Marshal, who is in America right now. And he makes a comment in America saying that if things go very far with India, if there’s a war, we can wipe out half of the world. When he makes a comment like that, when he means “half of the world,” China would be affected, because you’re on this half of the world with India. So, how does China look at a comment like that from a very, very senior Field Marshal, to say the least?
Henry Huiyao Wang
I haven’t heard that myself, just from you. But what I see President Trump doing is also being in the mood of making deals, brokering peace, like he just did with Armenia and Azerbaijan, and also with Cambodia and Thailand. I think China and the U.S. can work together to broker peace for India and Pakistan, and even for Russia and Ukraine. India and China can work together with the U.S. to broker peace for Russia and Ukraine, and for the Middle East to some extent.
I see that the U.S. is inviting Indian Prime Minister Modi—he was there in February. I see they are talking to all parties. That should also be the policy with China: talk to all parties. For the first time in six years, Prime Minister Modi is personally coming to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, and also for a state visit. We are really looking forward to that. I think there is much room to talk, and we can really work things out with much better understanding, dialogue, and face-to-face meetings, rather than through outer space.
Niranjan Narayanaswamy
Of course, there have been several sticking points over the last decade, I would say. You’ve had the faceoff in Doklam, the faceoff in Galwan between India and China. There have been skirmishes at the Line of Actual Control. Is it possible that both countries leave all of that behind? And looking ahead, Dr. Henry, what would be the areas of cooperation that you see as possible to take the India–China story forward?
Henry Huiyao Wang
Absolutely. This is so crucial. Since 1962, for the last 56 years, we haven’t had any big events except for the last few years when we saw some trouble in those icy, unlivable, very remote areas. Why should we be so fussy about those unproductive areas? Let’s maintain the status quo and conduct consultations through the current dialogue channels.
I think it’s more important, with the challenges of war, nuclear proliferation in Europe and Gaza, and now possibly in our neighbourhood, that we focus on cooperation to maintain peace. And more so, we should use our efforts to generate more economic cooperation.
China and India have so much in common. We have a lot to learn from each other. China can help India in many ways. China has developed the best infrastructure in the world. AIIB, founded in China, has India as its largest recipient of loans. We also used to have many Indian students studying in China. During COVID, there were 20–30,000 Indian students in China. Now they have all gone back, and we hope they are coming back again.
We should do more on rural development, digital development, AI, environmental preservation, sustainable development, and green power. These are all areas we can collaborate on. I see a much bigger pie, much bigger interests compared with the little disputes we have. We should really put those disputes aside, focus on our major interests, and improve the livelihoods of both peoples. We must also resist this kind of pressure, like trade sanctions, trade wars, and tariffs. We have so much in common to work together on.
Niranjan Narayanaswamy
Look at the recent headlines. For example, I’m reading a headline from the Chinese envoys, a diplomat who said, “Give the bully an inch, he will take a mile.” Beijing was trying to directly send a message while referring to India and what Donald Trump had tried to India vis-à-vis tariffs. How is China looking at someone like Donald Trump, and what has your response been? Do you feel BRICS, as a bloc, can unite now to finally send the U.S. a message?
Henry Huiyao Wang
Exactly. What the U.S. does is use tactics that break through every country individually. They have set tariffs for 100 countries and solved them one by one with this kind of individual tactic, because we are not a bloc, we are not united. I mean, we should be united—absolutely.
China is probably the only one that stood up, escalated tariffs with the U.S. Now they’ve come down in a more reasonable fashion, but China does have the strength. Like former U.S. Secretary Blinken said, the U.S. always talks from a point of strength. Probably, China is doing that too. So I can see China is the only country that really stood up to this kind of pressure. But I think countries like India, the EU, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, ASEAN—we should do the same. I do see huge potential in BRICS. The BRICS countries now have a GDP larger than the G7. We have 40% of the global GDP and a much larger population. It’s high time. India has been one of the leaders of the Global South, and China is the same.
We should work together, lead the BRICS countries, and make ot more economically viable to resist unilateralism, trade wars, tariff wars, and all those unfair practices. It’s time that big countries like China and India work together.
Niranjan Narayanaswamy
You did mention that you come from a point of strength, and that’s why America had to pipe down vis-à-vis the tariffs and the big talk on China, especially. I want to tell you, India is also not yielding to America. We’re also telling them back. You may have heard different comments coming from our own Prime Minister, who said that he will continue to fight for our farmers, and irrespective of the costs involved, he will take them head-on, and we are ready for challenges. So India’s message has also been that we are not going to take the bullying from Donald Trump.
But there’s another view in America now that perhaps Trump stands to lose by giving India this kind of treatment. Many are blaming him already for bringing India and China closer together, and we’ve seen noises from Delhi and Beijing. Do you think he’s done that successfully?
Henry Huiyao Wang
Well, I think willingly or unwillingly, Trump is doing part of that. But I do see India as a very proud nation. You have a very long history, a very strong character, and a lot of talent. Just look at the United States—in many big companies, business schools, and financial institutions, there are many professors and leaders of Indian origin.
So I think this may be counterproductive, pushing India away from the U.S. to some extent. But it’s also a timely wake-up call for India to think: why agonise over relations with China, why stay in a bad relationship? Why can’t we stick together for the benefit of the Global South? We are two close neighbours, and we should support each other. And of course, why should we be dictated by just one country in the world that has been unfair many times? I think now people are starting to think twice. That’s why we are paying a lot of attention to the current situation, and it’s very interesting to see Prime Minister Modi coming to China to exchange views, compare notes, and see how we can strengthen cooperation for the benefit of the people of both countries, the Global South, and the world.
Niranjan Narayanaswamy
Okay, my final set of questions for you. I heard you made a very interesting comment—you said maintain the status quo, and then take it forward from here. You can just take it forward from here, right? So, what’s a good point to start with for China and India?
Henry Huiyao Wang
They already had several rounds of talks before, military to military, MFA to MFA, and so on. But this time, we should really grasp the opportunity of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to China. Let’s hammer out a joint statement saying that: let’s look forward, let’s work in many ways, let’s come up with ten areas of cooperation—environment, infrastructure, finance, people-to-people exchanges, and tourism. Let’s open visas, get student exchanges going, and many more. Let’s create a good mood and a good narrative. Let’s study the history of both countries and revive common ground like Buddhism, which is popular in both. So, let’s work out a joint statement and look beyond.
If we could maintain the status quo from 1962 until a few years ago, why can’t we continue to maintain another 50 or 60 years? There’s no reason we should fight over such silly, unnecessary things.
I think we should create a good atmosphere, a good narrative, improve understanding, and let those who want to say good things speak up. Particularly, head-of-state diplomacy between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi is so important. Let’s revive the Wuhan spirit. Let’s do that. And I’m sure we could at least get back to normal relations, and that’s what I hope.
Niranjan Narayanaswamy & Henry Huiyao Wang
Okay, great. Dr. Henry, thank you for speaking to the Republic TV. We look forward to speaking to you again, because we feel it’s a start. Let’s see where this goes, because I think this time both countries are going in with a very honest intention, or at least that’s the noise coming from China. And I see that the Indian side is also very keen to see where this goes from here. We look forward.
Thank you for speaking to us. Thank you for your time. Thank you, Dr. Henry.
Note: The above text is the output of transcribing from an audio recording. It is posted as a reference for the discussion.
