China has sought to paper over cracks in its relations with India, saying that the two countries have reached a “strategic consensus” during the visit of Premier Li Keqiang to New Delhi, a visit that was in doubt until two weeks ago because of a dispute over their joint Himalayan border.

Mr Li, making India his first foreign destination as China’s premier, repeatedly referred to the “strategic” relations between two countries with ancient civilisations and 2.5bn inhabitants, or more than a third of the world’s population.

“Without the common development of China and India, Asia won’t become strong and the world won’t become a better place,” Mr Li said after the signing of eight economic and cultural agreements on matters from Indian pilgrimages in Tibet to co-operation on sewage treatment.