China Commits to Support India’s Needs in Fertilisers, Rare Earths, Machinery
Wang Yi assures Jaishankar China will ease supply bottlenecks in key sectors as India–China relations improve ahead of major summits.
India–China Relations Improve as Beijing Promises Critical Supply Support
China has assured India that it will address three critical supply concerns — fertilisers, rare earth elements and tunnel boring machines — during high-level talks in New Delhi on Tuesday, according to ANI sources.
The assurance came during a bilateral meeting between External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who arrived in India on Monday for a two-day visit. The talks mark the first significant engagement between the two nations since recent steps to reduce tensions along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Key Commitments by China
Wang Yi confirmed that Beijing is working to meet India’s requirements in:
♦ Fertilisers — critical for India’s agriculture sector;
♦ Rare earths — vital for electronics, renewable energy and defence industries;
♦ Tunnel boring machines — essential for infrastructure and transport projects.
Jaishankar Calls for Stable, Constructive Ties
In his opening remarks, Jaishankar urged both sides to avoid “restrictive trade measures and roadblocks,” stressing that differences must not turn into disputes. He said, “Stable and constructive ties between India and China are not only to our benefit, but that of the world as well. This is best done by handling relations on the basis of mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity.”
The agenda covered economic and trade issues, pilgrimages, border trade, connectivity, river data sharing and bilateral exchanges.
Context: Border Tensions and Diplomatic Efforts
India–China relations have been strained since the military standoff in eastern Ladakh in 2020, though partial troop disengagement has occurred at certain friction points. Ahead of the 2024 BRICS Summit, both countries agreed to new patrolling protocols along the LAC, a step seen as de-escalatory.
Wang Yi’s visit also precedes Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expected trip to Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit scheduled for 31 August to early September.
Global and Economic Backdrop
Jaishankar highlighted the broader need to enhance stability in the global economy, citing geopolitical uncertainty from the war in Ukraine and U.S. tariff policies. The meeting follows Jaishankar’s July visit to Beijing, during which he raised similar trade and supply concerns.
