Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong on Thursday opposed US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose 50% tariffs on Indian goods and affirmed Beijing’s readiness to stand firmly with New Delhi.
“US has imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on India and even threatened more. China firmly opposes it. Silence only emboldens the bully. China will firmly stand with India,” Xu said.
Feihong expressed China’s interest in boosting trade with India, saying China is open to more Indian goods like IT, software, and biomedicine, while offering its strength in electronics, infrastructure, and clean energy. He added that connecting the two markets would create benefits greater than expected.
“If connected, the two major markets will produce an effect of one plus one bigger than two,” he said.
Speaking at an event organised by independent think tank Chintan Research Foundation (CRF) here, the envoy added that the US had long enjoyed the benefits of free trade but was now using tariffs as bargaining tools.
Silence Emboldens the Bully
Chinese Ambassador to India Feihong emphasised that remaining silent would only encourage such actions and urged India and China to work together in the face of these measures.
He further invited Indian companies to invest in China and expressed hope that Indian authorities would ensure a fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese businesses operating in India.
“We’ll welcome more Indian goods to enter the Chinese market. India has a competitive edge in IT, software and biomedicine, while the Chinese see a rapid expansion in the fields of electronic manufacturing, infrastructure construction and new energy,” said Feihong.
Remarks Follow Efforts to Mend Strained India-China Relations
The comments come at a time when both countries are trying to reset their troubled ties.
Former Indian diplomats also weighed in on the broader relationship.
Ambassador (Retd) Neelam D. Sabharwal described India-China ties as “unique,” shaped by both historical bonds and long periods of disruption.
She said recent outreach efforts were a welcome step after nearly five years of strained relations, adding that leaders on both sides had always recognised the importance of maintaining peace and not letting differences turn into disputes.
Ambassador Venkatesh Varma, meanwhile, placed the discussion in a wider international context.
He noted that forums like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) had emerged as important platforms for regional stability, particularly in countering extremism and terrorism.
He recalled that India’s decision to join the SCO in 2017 was based on its earlier positive experiences of working with Russia and China through BRICS and RIC groupings.
Together, the remarks highlighted the complex but evolving relationship between India and China, where competition and cooperation continue to go hand in hand amid a shifting global order.
(With IANS Inputs)
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