“Give Us a Chance Too!” — China Urges India Amid US Trade War

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Amid the ongoing tariff war between the US and China, China has extended a hand of friendship towards India. China has said that it is ready to help India reduce the trade deficit. China appealed to India and said that its companies should also be given a fair environment.

According to recent reports, India's trade deficit with China has reached a record $99.2 billion. In view of this, China has assured India that it is ready to take steps to remove this imbalance. The Chinese ambassador has said that the market for Indian goods in China is open and premium Indian products will be welcomed. China has also said that it will do everything possible to help Indian companies understand the demands of the Chinese market and establish itself there.

While giving an interview to a TV channel after taking charge as Ambassador to India, Chinese envoy Shu Feihong said that trade relations between India and China should be 'win-win' i.e. beneficial for both. He said, "China has never deliberately increased the trade surplus. This is the result of the natural trend of the market." The ambassador said that in the year 2024, there has been a sharp increase in the export of products like pepper, iron ore and cotton yarn from India to China - which have registered an increase of 17%, 160% and 240% respectively. Ambassador Shu said that China is the second largest consumer market in the world and the middle class here is huge. Indian companies should take advantage of platforms like China International Import Expo (CIIE), China-South Asia Expo and China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE).

In the interview, he also expressed hope that India will provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment to Chinese companies. This will further strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries and the people of both countries will get real benefits from it. When asked about India's concerns regarding export controls on Chinese equipment and manpower, the ambassador clarified that China has never imposed any such restrictions. On the contrary, he said, "Chinese citizens face a lot of difficulty in getting Indian visas, Chinese companies working here do not get a favorable environment, and opposition to Chinese investment is often heard in the media." The ambassador also said that both countries should move forward with mutual trust and cooperation and work towards solutions by understanding each other's concerns. Shu Feihong supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that 'competition should not be turned into conflict.' He said that dialogue is the basis of a lasting cooperative relationship and China wants to strengthen such a relationship with India. He also talked about welcoming PM Modi in China at the SCO Summit.