China's Ambassador to India Xu Feihong expressed optimism about the future of China-India relations as the two nations celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties in New Delhi.

China's embassy hosted a gala event to mark the occasion on April 1, with India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri chief guest.

Xu and Misri jointly cut a cake to kick off the celebration.

At the reception, Xu said the sound and stable development of China-India relations served the fundamental interests of people in both countries, met the common aspirations of regional countries, and was conducive to world peace, stability, development, and prosperity.

As the only two major developing countries and representatives of emerging economies each with a population of more than 1 billion, China-India ties have become one of the most crucial bilateral relations in the world, China's envoy.

Xu noted that bilateral economic and trade cooperation continues to maintain good momentum.

"In the first two months of this year, the bilateral trade volume reached $23.6 billion. These figures fully demonstrate the strong motivation for exchanges and cooperation between the two countries," the envoy said. "We should strengthen the alignment of our development strategies, resume and promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and push forward the modernization of the two countries.

"It is our common goal to develop the economy and improve people's livelihoods."

China is actively promoting high-quality development and pursuing higher-standard opening-up while India is committed to realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

"At present, as vital members of multilateral mechanisms such as BRICS, SCO, and G20, China and India should take the common responsibilities of safeguarding the rights and interests of developing countries, maintaining international fairness and justice, and upholding multilateralism," he said.

Xu said that as the rotating president of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization this year, China is willing to work with all parties, including India.

The envoy said he was deeply moved by India's Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi's profound aspirations for China-India friendship, as well as Gandhi's guidance for future China-India ties.

"Mahatma Gandhi once said, 'I long for the day when a free India and free China will co-operate together in friendship and brotherhood for their own good and for the good of Asia and the world'," Xu said.

It was the first time since 2019 that India's foreign secretary had attended such an event and Misri's presence at the reception marked a significant turning point in China-India relations. Previously, the joint secretary in charge of China at the Ministry of External Affairs, Gourangalal Das, had attended.

Describing the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to rebuild China-India ties, Misri said: "As modern nation states, we have had only 75 years of formal ties, India and China have shared cultural and civilizational ties and people-to-people contacts going back millennia."

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.