India's COVID-19 crisis: Chinese premier Xi Jinping writes to PM Modi, extends sympathies

Amid the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc in India, Chinese President Xi Jinping has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi extending sympathies. In a letter that was sent on Friday, the Chinese President said that he is "very concerned" about the recent situation of the pandemic in India and on behalf of the "Chinese Government and people, as well as in my own name, I would like to express sincere sympathies to the Indian Government and people."

This is the first official communication from the Chinese President to PM Modi since last year's stand-off in eastern Ladakh and the Galwan incident. Since the standoff, the defence ministers of the two countries have met while the foreign ministers have not only met but spoken a number of times.

Highlighting how, "humanity is a community with a shared future", President Xi said, "only through solidarity and cooperation can countries around the world ultimately defeat the pandemic."

Extending Beijing's cooperation with New Delhi, he said, "Chinese side stands ready to strengthen cooperation with the Indian side in fighting the pandemic and provide support and help in this regard", adding, "I believe that under the leadership of the Indian Government, the Indian people will surely prevail over the pandemic."

Many Indian private companies have been procuring essentials from China to deal with the ongoing crisis in India.