Diplomacy is often described as the art of negotiation, yet in reality it is a far more nuanced practice, shaped as much by historical memory, cultural understandings, and geopolitical calculations. Nowhere is this complexity more evident than in India’s engagement with China, a relationship defined simultaneously by cooperation, competition, and strategic balancing.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Shyam Saran, the former Foreign Secretary of India (2004–2006), reflects on the dynamics of India–China diplomatic relations and the importance of strategic patience in managing one of Asia’s most consequential bilateral relationships. A distinguished diplomat and strategic thinker, he is the author of How India Sees the World (2017) and How China Sees India and the World (2022), and was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2011 for his contributions to public service.