China’s Charge d’Affaires in India, Ma Jia, announced that India-China trade achieved unprecedented levels in 2023. Despite a mid-year slowdown, bilateral trade exceeded the figures recorded in 2022.
Comments by Chinese Envoy
Speaking at a New Year celebration event in New Delhi, Ma Jia highlighted the substantial growth in trade, amounting to $136.2 billion. She further emphasised the broader “improvements” in bilateral relations, citing the informal meeting between Indian PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in August as a noteworthy development.
On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of China’s founding, Ma pledged that Beijing will “stay committed to advancing Chinese modernisation, through high-quality development.” “We will stay committed to the policy of opening-up, give full play to the advantage of a huge domestic market, and create favorable conditions for the world to share China’s opportunities,” she vowed.
Last evening Chinese new year carnival in Delhi
— Naveen Kapoor (@IamNaveenKapoor) February 7, 2024
Some glimpses pic.twitter.com/OSRKV8fAhT
On India-China Relations
The diplomat said that China-India relations had shown “a positive momentum of improvement” over the last year. The neighbours “maintained high-level communications and interactions,” with President Xi and PM Modi reaching an “important consensus on stabilising bilateral ties,” Ma highlighted.
She also underscored China’s support for India’s presidencies of the G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Commenting on the Asian rivals’ robust trade, Ma said that bilateral trade volume reached $136.2 billion in 2023, with a year-on-year growth of 1.5%. India’s exports to China also increased by 6% in the same period.
On International Relations
“Over the past year, China has promoted world peace and development,” Ma claimed, adding, “In a world of instability and transformation, China has…worked hard for the cessation of hostilities and for peace talks in the Ukraine crisis, made unremitting efforts for the de-escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, played a constructive role in addressing hotspot issues such as Afghanistan and Myanmar, and contributed to addressing global challenges.”
She went on to note that 2024 marks the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, or “Panchsheel,” which “have already become a basic norm governing international relations.” On behalf of Beijing, the envoy expressed hope that in 2024, “conflicts and wars will be brought to an end, displaced people return to their home at an early date, and international justice and fairness will be truly upheld.”