I. The honeymoon phase

China and India enjoyed close ties during early and middle 1950s. India was the first non-socialist country to establish diplomatic relations with China. The two sides shared a wide ranging consensus on many issues and cooperated in advocating world peace. The top-level leaders of the two countries were in close contact and bilateral ties developed well.

On April 1, 1950, China established diplomatic relations with India. Yuan Zhongxian was appointed China's first ambassador to India. His counterpart in China was Kavalam Madhava Panikkar.

In May 1952, the China-India Friendship Association was founded in Beijing with Ding Xilin as president.

In June 1954, Premier Zhou Enlai visited India. It was the first visit by a Chinese leader to a non-socialist country. During the visit, the two sides signed the Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of India on Trade and Intercourse between the Tibet Region of China and India. China also introduced the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence for the first time.

In October 1954, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited China. He was the first foreign leader to visit China after 1949. The two visits promoted the development of bilateral ties.

In April 1955, the first Asian-African Conference was held in Bandung, Indonesia. Zhou and Nehru cooperated closely at the meeting and upheld the unity among Asian and African countries, which ensured the success of the meeting.

In November 1956, Zhou paid a second visit to India. He exchanged the ideas on Tibet with Nehru, further clarifying China's stance and policies concerning the Tibet issue. Nehru said the Indian government respected China's sovereignty over Tibet.

In January 1957, Zhou visited India once again to receive an honorary doctorate conferred by India International University.