Dhaka, Oct. 5 -- India is working to emerge from China's shadow while improving diplomatic relations, but the more the world's most populous country pushes, the more apparent its dependence on its wealthier neighbour becomes.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in New Delhi last month, Xi's first visit to the subcontinent in seven years. The two leaders pledged to rebuild ties badly damaged by deadly hand-to-hand troop clashes in 2020 on their shared but ill-defined Himalayan border.

There are other signs of warming relations since the two Asian giants last year agreed to end the military standoff. Direct flights between Indian and Chinese cities have resumed after being suspended since the COVID-19 ...