Premier Li Keqiang's May 19-20 visit to India is significant for at least two reasons. This is his first visit abroad after being elected premier, indicating the importance China, especially Li, attaches to India. Also, Li's visit takes place close on the heels of a successful meeting between President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Durban in March, where the two leaders discussed issues of mutual interest for the first time.

In between, senior diplomats of the two countries have held talks, the most significant being the one during the recent visit of India's External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid to China. The visit of Khurshid, who has been consistent in his approach to relations with China, prepared the ground for the Chinese premier's visit to New Delhi.

Khurshid has presumably established a good personal chemistry with Chinese leaders, which is essential for diplomatic parleys. The deals the two countries may sign in New Delhi would entail a high degree of mutual sensitivity and space for mutual adjustments, which conforms to oriental wisdom and which should permeate Sino-Indian relations.