In a bid to mend strained relations, experts and media leaders from India and China have emphasized the need to bridge the communication gap between the two nations. The call was made during a special plenary session at the 31st annual conference of the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre, held in Mumbai in October. The session focused on promoting dialogue to improve bilateral ties, with participants stressing the importance of rebuilding trust to reduce negative perceptions. Padma Rani, a senior professor at the Manipal Institute of Communication, highlighted the role of multilateral organizations like BRICS, G20, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in aligning views on global issues. She advocated for consistent dialogue and non-official exchanges between experts, think tanks, and civil society members to address the trust deficit. Wang Xiangwei, a professor at Hong Kong Baptist University, reflected on the cultural differences in communication styles between the two nations, noting that these differences could serve as bridges rather than barriers. He lamented the lack of accredited journalists in each other’s countries, which has led to negative portrayals in the media. Biplab Loho Choudhury, chairman of the Indian Communication Congress, recalled Rabindranath Tagore’s vision of a ‘common Asian viewpoint’ and urged the two nations to embrace an Asian way of thinking. Ji Li, a professor at Wuhan University, highlighted a project encouraging young journalists to report on sustainable development goals, aiming to shift media narratives from confrontation to cooperation. K.G. Suresh, vice-president of the Indian Communication Congress, called for more academic exchanges to shape perceptions, while Wang suggested partnerships between media organizations to reduce dependency on Western sources and foster empathy through shared bylines.