Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with his counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and is also expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his three-day visit to New Delhi.

Modi, according to Indian media, might also visit China this month.

Jaishankar said the two neighbours wanted to "move ahead" after a "difficult period in our relationship".

"We must be guided by the three mutuals -- mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest," he said. "Differences must not become disputes, nor competition conflict."

The world's two most populous nations are intense rivals competing for influence across South Asia, and fought a deadly border clash in 2020.

But caught in global trade and geopolitical turbulence triggered by US President Donald Trump's tariff war, the countries have moved to mend ties.

Restarting border trade across their icy and high-altitude Himalayan border is expected to feature high on Wang's agenda.

Its resumption would be significant for its symbolism, and follows agreements to return direct flights and issue tourist visas.

India is also part of the Quad security alliance with the United States, Australia and Japan, which is seen as a counter to China.

- Modi-Putin call -

Warming ties between China and India come as relations between New Delhi and Washington are strained.

Trump has issued an ultimatum for India to end its purchases of Russian oil -- a key revenue source for Moscow's war in Ukraine -- or Washington will double new import tariffs from 25 percent to 50 percent.

Modi said Monday he spoke to "my friend" Vladimir Putin, with the Russian president "sharing insights" on his Alaska summit last week with Trump.

"India has consistently called for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict and supports all efforts in this regard," the Indian premier wrote on social media.

Indian hopes that the Alaska meeting would ease US tariff pressure were tempered earlier Monday by US trade adviser Peter Navarro.

"If India wants to be treated as a strategic partner of the US, it needs to start acting like one," he wrote in a sharply-worded column in the Financial Times.

"India acts as a global clearinghouse for Russian oil, converting embargoed crude into high-value exports while giving Moscow the dollars it needs," he wrote.

"The proceeds flow to India's politically connected energy titans, and in turn, into Vladimir Putin's war chest," he added, in an apparent swipe at India's big refiners, which include tycoon Mukesh Ambani.

Navarro said the 50 percent tariff -- due to begin on August 27 -- will "hit India where it hurts".

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