After nearly five years of tension, China-India relations have thawed significantly in 2025, with increased interactions between the two sides over the past year. Amid the backdrop of Trump’s tariffs, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Shanghai in August, where he highlighted the importance of closer ties between the two giants

Looking ahead, what are the prospects for China and India’s ability to deepen their ties across realms like trade and technology, while managing longstanding border tensions?

In this episode of East Asia Pulse, EAI Deputy Director Dr Chen Gang speaks with Dr Pradeep Taneja, Senior Lecturer in Asian Politics, Political Economy, and International Relations at the University of Melbourne. They explore the current state of India-China relations and how the evolution of economic reforms in both countries has shaped their growth models, strategic choices, and prospects for cooperation and competition.

Key Highlights:

00:00 China-India relations in the last five years and the drivers shaping them

06:40 Similarities and differences in the reform paths of China and India

14:09 How a realistic economic relationship between China and India can be forged in areas of trade, investment and technology amid “de-risking”

19:54: What China and India can learn from each other to build strong domestic industries while reducing external reliance

22:38 Practical steps that can help to stabilise China-India ties

East Asia Pulse is a podcast produced by the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). It provides in-depth analyses of political, economic and strategic trends in East Asia.

Mailing list: http://tiny.cc/eai-emailing
LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/east-asian-institute/
YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/EastAsianInstituteNUS

India is racing ahead in modernising its payment systems, from the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)’s instant rails to the e‑rupee pilot. Can it set the benchmark for regional standards? What lies ahead for cross‑border digital currencies, cryptocurrencies, and stablecoins under evolving regulation and governance structures?

EAI Director Prof Alfred Schipke speaks with Mr P. Vasudevan, Executive Director of the Reserve Bank of India, on the technology, governance, and policy choices shaping the next chapter of regional payments system development.

Highlights:

00:00 The development of India’s payment systems, including Unified Payments Interface (UPI), India’s leading fast payment system

04:55 Progress of India’s pilot of its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), the e-rupee

10:53 The potential of CBDCs for cross-border transactions, and the role played by governance structures in such transactions

15:08 Challenges faced in harmonizing standards and regulations for cross-border CBDCs

24:10 India’s stance on new financial instruments like cryptocurrencies and stablecoins

East Asia Pulse is a podcast produced by the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). It provides in-depth analyses of political, economic and strategic trends in East Asia.

Mailing list: http://tiny.cc/eai-emailing
LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/east-asian-institute/
YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/EastAsianInstituteNUS

How is China responding to trade policies under Trump 2.0?

EAI Senior Research Fellow Dr Sarah Tong speaks with Dr Su Qingyi, Head of the International Trade Department from the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). They discuss China’s response to US trade policies, China’s role in global trade governance and prospects for China-ASEAN collaboration.

Key Highlights:

00:00 Differences in trade policies under Trump 2.0, compared to Trump 1.0

07:56 The impact of Trump 2.0 trade policies on the world economy

11:25 Assessment of other countries’ responses to US trade tariffs

20:09 China’s position and response to Trump’s trade policies

25:55 China's efforts to enhance its role in global trade institutions and rule-making

27:46 Prospects for China-ASEAN collaboration

East Asia Pulse is a podcast produced by the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). It provides in-depth analyses of political, economic and strategic trends in East Asia.

Mailing list: http://tiny.cc/eai-emailing
LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/east-asian-institute/
YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/EastAsianInstituteNUS