China to Increase Agricultural Exports to India

Chinese President, Xi Jinping told Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in the G20 meeting on 30 November that China was looking to boost agricultural exports to India while increasing imports of rapeseed and soymeal.  

India’s Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale detailing the deliberations between the two leaders said that Xi also indicated greater trade in the pharmaceuticals sector between India and China.

He added, “On the economic side, President Xi Jinping referred to enhanced imports of rice and sugar from India and spoke of possibility of greater imports of soymeal and rapeseed.”  

The meeting at the G20 summit was the fourth between Xi and Modi this year as the leaders looked to build on a thaw in ties between the two countries after a military standoff on their disputed border last year. 

India’s Commerce Ministry and a six-member Chinese delegation signed an agreement on Wednesday allowing Beijing to inspect imports of Indian fish meal and fish oil in an effort to ease market access for exports of various farm products. The two countries should expand bilateral trade and strengthen investment, Xinhua cited Xi as saying, without giving details. 

Earlier India banned the import of Chinese apples in 2017 after finding pesticides, while China restricted imports of Indian buffalo meat because of concern over foot and mouth disease. Their bilateral trade reached $89.6 billion in 2017/18 with a deficit of $62.9 billion in China's favour.