Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his three-day visit to China on Thursday in Xi'an, western China's Shaanxi Province. Chinese President Xi Jinping greeted Modi in the city with a high-level welcome ceremony.

The dragon-elephant pas de deux has made headlines once again, but suspicions from the Western world soon poured in, saying the surface friendliness cannot cover the fact that Sino-Indian relations have irreconcilable maladies. No matter how much cooperation they can establish, border disputes will offset all progress.

It is obvious that the Western elite doesn't want to see India and China drawing closer to each other, because it will confront their vision for Asia's future. As rising powers in this region, China and India, as partners or rivals, will make a huge difference to the geopolitical interests of the West.

It will be a long-term test for China and India to get rid of distractions imposed by the West and stick to a path which can benefit the national interest of both countries.

It must be noted that the bilateral relationship is still vulnerable to many sensitive issues. Although no bullets have been fired along the border for decades, tensions still remain.

But China and India have displayed more pragmatism. They know the difficulty of addressing border disputes, and no side expects the solution can only be achieved through a life-or-death battle. Mainstream society in both nations is reaching a consensus that friendship should walk ahead of the resolution of border disputes.

However, lack of mutual trust still disturbs both sides. Media reports raise concerns about each other from time to time.

China and India should think out of the box where delusions of persecution prevail. Otherwise, cooperation can scarcely be conducted, and only distrust and hostility are rife.

Defining a relationship between two neighboring rising powers is new to international relations. It is hard for China and India to develop a strategic partnership, but it will be dreadful for both sides to vie with each other.

The fundamental interests of China and India require peace, goodwill and cooperation. No side should look at the other with contempt or arrogance, and their problems should be addressed between the two with no need to introduce a third party.

Modi's visit gives another push to the development of bilateral relations after Xi's visit to India last September. We should expect more progress in the future.