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Abstract

National identity and national interest are useful explanatory tools of explaining India-China relations. The thesis argues that the dynamics of national identity and national interest defined by the current international and domestic structures determine the formulation of their foreign policy strategies and thus their bilateral relations. In the current international structure and under the condition of globalization, their national identities as rising power and emerging power and their national interest of economic development have become dominant themes defining their international positions and guide the foreign policy-making in China and in India, which lay the ground for their cooperative approach towards each other. This explains their increasing cooperative behaviours in many issue areas. However, their identities as modern states and regional powers prescribe the importance of national security interest. In current international system, the realist understandings of self-help and balance of power are still dominant in the security related issues in their bilateral relations, and have spill-over effect on other issues. This explains competition part of their relations. Regarding the future of India-China relations, it concludes that the cooperation prospects of India-China relations should be wide and positive. However, still hampered by historical mistrust, India-China relations are moving at variable speeds, with some sections faster than the others, this will continue in the near future. The thesis suggests that both countries should continue to promote mutual understanding and practical cooperation in their relations. Both sides should consolidate the existing institutional mechanisms and explore the possibilities of new mechanisms, at the bilateral as well as multilateral level. Moreover, the leaderships of the two countries should take the initiative to foster a shared culture between them that is based on reciprocity and ideas of win-win. This is the fundamental path through which India and China can get out of their current strategic stasis and bring their relations to a new level.