India, China step up engagement

India, China step up engagement

Context:

India and China are seeking to step up the pace in improving ties

What are the upcoming engagements?

1. The government will host Guo Yezhou, Vice- Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The dates have not been yet confirmed.
2. Meeting to improve Trade imbalances:

• Chinese Commerce Minister Zhong Shan or his deputy is expected to visit for talks with Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu aimed at improving trade imbalances.
• The informal ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) organised by the Commerce Ministry has been scheduled on March 19 and 20.
• What is the significance of the meeting? The WTO ministerial meeting is being seen as a significant platform of countries worried by the U.S.’s tough position on tariffs and President Donald Trump’s threats of a “trade war”

3.  India-China strategic economic dialogue:

• This will be held between officials of the NITI Aayog and China’s top planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC)
• Five working groups will hold detailed discussions on infrastructure, energy, hi-technology, investments and resource conservation.

4. Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) meeting: India will be participating in the meet in Beijing which is scheduled from April 8th to 11th
5. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit:

• Prime Minister Modi is expected to meet President Xi in June at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Qingdao.
• There is also a possibility of an informal summit before that

6.  High-profile import exhibition in Shanghai: In November, India has agreed in principle to participate in the high-profile import exhibition in Shanghai, despite reservations about China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).