The Indian Prime Minister’s (PM) first visit to China since he took office has been the subject of a great buzz. Despite years of mistrust between the two countries, PM Narendra Modi and his Chinese counterpart seemed to largely agree on cooperating to serve their countries’ mutual interests. PM Modi has signed $ 22 billion worth of deals with China in research, infrastructure, education and other areas. Once China and India have economic interests in common, relations between the countries will probably become smoother and the likelihood of flare ups at the disputed Himalayan border will decrease. Modi said at a press conference that he and Chinese PM Li Keqiang had agreed to come to a “fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution” to the long standing dispute over the India-China border. Modi did ask China to revise its approach regarding this issue but it seems that the lure of mutually beneficial economic growth might finally override any residual differences over territory and foreign policy. Despite the apparent success of the visit, the opposition Congress Party criticised the visit as a “complete and utter failure” and derided the premier for launching a “disgraceful and distasteful attack on the opposition and beating his own drum”. Randeep Surjewala, of the All India Congress Committee, accused Modi of not raising the issue “of stapled visas to people of Arunachal Pradesh while he extends e-visa facility to Chinese nationals”. China does not stamp the passports of Indians from Arunachal Pradesh, ostensibly because they believe they have a claim on that territory. The India-China border issue has not been resolved despite several rounds of talks over the years. Modi’s focus on economic development rather than territorial conflict could open the door to the start of a peace process with China. This approach shows wisdom that other Indian politicians should recognise.India has recently expressed concerns over the fact that the $ 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor entails the development of a land route connecting western China to the Arabian Sea via Kashmir — a disputed territory between India and Pakistan. Meanwhile, there have been suspicions in Pakistan regarding Modi’s visit that have led some to question the loyalty of China — Pakistan’s long standing friend and ally. Both countries need to realise that China’s external financial investments are just a part of its “commercial projects” (as President Xi Jinping has called them) as a growing economic power in the modern world and not necessarily part of a political strategy. China’s investments in India and Pakistan will certainly prove beneficial for the two heavily indebted, flagging economies in the long run. The leadership of both countries should not allow their political conflicts to derail them from the path to progress. *