There has been meaningful progress in India-China relations recently and this year has begun on a positive note. This is significant given the leadership change in China.

The Economic and Security Dialogue between the two countries was held in New Delhi in November, while India's National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon met his Chinese counterpart State Councilor Dai Bingguo in Beijing in December to exchange notes on bilateral and regional issues. The two diplomats then met on the sidelines of the meeting of the High Representatives on National Security in the BRICS in New Delhi last week.

Dai is no stranger to Menon. As China's chief negotiator on the India-China border talks, since the Special Representatives Talks were established in 2003, he has repeatedly met with Menon to discuss the complex India-China border issue. During his visit to India Dai Bingguo also called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.