Chinese President Xi Jinping extended greetings to India on its 77th Republic Day on Monday, calling for strong regional partnerships between "good neighbours, friends and partners".

Chinese President Xi Jinping extends Republic Day greetings to India, calling the two countries good neighbours, friends and partners as bilateral ties show signs of gradual normalisation after years of strain.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said China and India were “good neighbours, friends and partners” in a Republic Day message to President Droupadi Murmu, as both sides continue efforts to stabilise ties after years of border tensions.

The removal of Zhang and Liu reduces the CMC to its smallest size in history, leaving as its only members Xi, who heads the body, and Zhang Shengmin, a political commissar who leads the military’s anti-corruption watchdog and was promoted to CMC vice-chair in October.

Xi Jinping calls India and China “friends and partners” on Republic Day, emphasizing improved relations and cooperation for global peace.

The vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, considered Xi Jinping's right-hand man, is accused of treason. General Zhang Youxia is

The Chinese leader also invoked his familiar metaphor of the ‘dragon and the elephant dancing together’\u00A0to describe the evolving relationship between the two Asian giants.

The latest in Xi Jinping's campaign of military purges has been described as "a total annihilation" of China's high command.