China has assured India that it will restart supplies of fertilisers, rare earth minerals, and tunnel boring machines (TBMs), a step viewed as part of the broader effort by both countries to normalise relations.
During his visit to New Delhi on Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar that Beijing will resume these key exports, which are considered crucial for India’s agriculture, automobile and infrastructure sectors.
Significance of the Development
This assurance is significant as China had blocked these supplies for almost a year. Fertilizers account for about 30 per cent of India’s imports from China, rare earths are crucial for the auto sector, and tunnel boring machines are important for infrastructure projects. Hence, the resumption of shipments is seen as a sign of easing of tensions and a step towards more stable economic relations between the two countries.
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Jaishankar On India-China relations
This development comes as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Monday that the basis for progress in India-China relations lies in both countries’ ability to maintain peace and stability along the border.
“You, Excellency, will of course be discussing border issues with our Special Representative, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, tomorrow. This is very important because the basis for any positive momentum in our ties is the ability to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas. It is also essential that the de-escalation process move forward,” Jaishankar said in his opening remarks during the meeting with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi.
Chinese Foreign Minister to Hold Dialogue on Boundary Issue
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is on a two-day visit to India, arrived in the national capital on Monday. On Tuesday, he will hold a new round of Special Representatives’ dialogue on the boundary issue with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and is also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day.