Manila, Philippines – India has urged China to take concrete measures to improve market access for Indian enterprises, ensure the resilience of regional supply chains, and narrow the persistent bilateral trade deficit between the two Asian economies.
Indian Demands for Market Access and Trade Rebalancing
The requirements were presented during a bilateral meeting between Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Manila, Philippines.
Jaishankar emphasized that addressing market access barriers and structural trade imbalances remains a essential condition for sustainable economic engagement. He noted that recent positive steps—including discussions on resuming direct commercial flights, streamlining visa issuance, reactivating the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, and restoring border trade—signal constructive momentum in bilateral ties.
Geopolitical Shifts and Multilateral Cooperation
The diplomatic re-engagement comes against a backdrop of shifting geopolitical dynamics, including Middle Eastern instability and evolving international trade policies, prompting both New Delhi and Beijing to recalibrate commercial dependencies.
India has recently adjusted some of the stringent investment restrictions on neighboring states originally imposed in 2020 following border standoffs, seeking to support domestic manufacturing capacity and technological integration. Jaishankar also acknowledged Chinese support during India’s chairmanship of the BRICS grouping, calling for structured bilateral mechanisms to guide future political and economic dialogue.
India’s push to address its trade imbalance with China underscores New Delhi’s strategy to secure market access and supply chain stability while navigating broader geopolitical realignments.
