The SCO's "Shanghai Spirit" of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity, and the pursuit of common development is a strong foundation on which to build partnerships.
Most experts see great promise in the upcoming Wuhan summit. After a decade of stagnation, last year saw bilateral trade grow by 18 per cent to reach 84.45 billion U.S. dollars.
China-India bilateral trade for 2017 shows an unprecedented rise, reaching $84.45 billion USD. For nearly a decade it had been stagnating at around $70 billion USD.
The actual numbers of Chinese tourists visiting India is perhaps much better in helping to put things in perspective. The number of Chinese visitors has clocked a fourfold increase in the last ten years.
What makes China the most interesting destination for India's students today is not just phenomenal rise in numbers. China has drawn increasing number of Indian students making it the fastest growing destination for Indian students' emigration.
China-India relations during 2017 will be remembered for passing through one of the most complex phases in their recent history.
The 15th round of Russia-India-China (RIC) foreign ministers 'trilateral' in New Delhi this week reinforces their significance for being an alternative paradigm in global governance.
While China-India parleys on macro-economic trends and explorations into strengthening bilateral economic partnership may not be new, their new context remains of special significance.
