When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on his 60th birthday on his Sina Weibo account Wednesday, he once again showed the high value he attaches to diplomacy through social media accounts.
 
Modi’s account on the Chinese version of Twitter, Sina Weibo, which was officially opened before his tour to Beijing in May this year, has tens of thousands of followers and has received plenty of comments from Chinese netizens. Yet this is not a special move, for he did the similar things for the US, Russia and Japan, through which, he has delivered a message to the world that India is more open, and is keeping up to date with the latest trends. 
 
Despite being the biggest democratic country in the world, India has given the world the impression over the past decades that it is a rather conservative nation. Apart from a lack of openness, there was also negative news about India emerging from time to time. Therefore, Modi is trying to provide a new perspective on India to the international community through his public diplomacy. Communicating to people abroad is one part of this. 
 
Such public diplomacy will also play a constructive role in the relationship between India and China.
 
Tere are currently no huge irritants affecting bilateral ties, but there has been no major progress either in recent years, because more is said than done. Besides, while certain difficult issues remain unsettled, it is still an open question as to when the two countries will completely settle on the track of healthy cooperation, especially with the backdrop of border disputes.
 
Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the upcoming 7th BRICS Summit in Russia later this week, and will have a formal meeting with Modi. A number of Indian media outlets have dropped hints that special representatives from both sides will also initiate “a crucial round of boundary talks.” If substantial progress is to be achieved, and the deadlock is to be broken, Sino-Indian relations will then be on the threshold of a new breakthrough.
 
In addition, the populations of the two countries do not see each other as friends. Some Indians consider China to be their biggest threat, while some Chinese also view India negatively. In this case, Modi’s Weibo account and his interactions with Chinese people can have a positive effect on bilateral relations.
 
Through this kind of public diplomacy, people from each side can raise their understanding of one another, which will in turn, play a significant role in enhancing Sino-Indian ties.
 
Of course, thorny issues need to be resolved through negotiations by leaders from both countries. Nevertheless, it can be assumed that if more Chinese look favorably on India, a relaxed atmosphere for smooth and healthy bilateral relations will be created. 
The article was compiled by Global Times reporter Li Aixin based on an interview with Zhao Gancheng, director of South Asia Studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies. liaixin@globaltimes.com.cn