Hostility towards India being replaced by hopes for friendly ties: Chinese media

Ahead of PM Modi's "informal visit" to China, the local media has already begun to praise the Indian prime minister's initiative.

The state-run China Daily said these development sends "positive signals" after the border standoff between the Chinese and Indian armies at Doklam last year.

"It was vice-foreign minister Kong Xuanyou's visit to New Delhi on April 5-6 to hold talks with India's foreign secretary, which set the tone for the meeting between Xi-Modi in Wuhan," China daily said.

The daily however cautioned that negotiations on "remodeling" the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) may prove difficult for Modi and Xi.

Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post(SCMP) said Xi and Modi's summit at Hubei's capital Wuhan on April 27-28 is in tune with "thaw in relations" in recent months.

China's right-leaning newspaper Global Times in its Oped page said the meeting between the two heads of state will help to "set the course"" for bilateral ties.

"Within China, hostility toward India is being replaced by hopes for friendly ties. The two countries need more communication to enhance mutual trust and eliminate the possibility of another border crisis," the editorial said.

The newspaper said China and India have a more "robust economic development than other emerging countries and are both independent."

"China and India cooled down soon after the Doklam standoff, which indicates the solid foundation for ties," it added.

In another article in SCMP, the writer said China has much to gain with the development of economic relations with India especially from a growing export economy.