Xi Echoes Modi’s “Dragon-Elephant Dance” Language as Relations Warm Up

An image from the 2024 BRICS summit that saw a breakthrough meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Photo: Xinhua

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Indian President Droupadi Murmu that the two countries should work more closely together. In a call to mark 75 years of diplomatic relations, Xi told Murmu that the two giants should move together in a “Dragon-Elephant tango.”

The phrase echoes remarks by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March when he likened their interaction to a “pas de deux” between the mythical animals and called for each to build on the other’s success.

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