India expects China to correct trade imbalance, be more sensitive to India

NEW DELHI - Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said here today that India expected China to correct the trade imbalance between the two nations and would like to see more Indian goods and services entering the Chinese markets.

She was addressing a meeting at the Observer Research Foundation here.

Many Chinese companies were now well established in India and many Indian companies are now opening up to China, she pointed out, adding that efforts were being made to resolve hurdles to ensure level playing field for foreign investors in India.

She said that India expected similar access to the Chinese markets especially in the areas of pharmaceuticals, information technology, and engineering goods where Indian companies have had to face opaque barriers.

Nirupama Rao said that India China relationship would grow even stronger if China shows more sensitivity on core issues like giving stapled visas to Indian nationals from Jammu and Kashmir

She also said that India had some areas of concern like China’s role in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Sino-Pak nuclear relationship.

Among the issues of concern was the management of trans border rivers, like the Brahmaputra “We are alert to reports of China damming trans border rivers and have sought assurances from China that it will take no action to affect negatively affect the flow of the rivers to India and so our rights as a low riparian are not adversely affected,” she added.

China had earlier assured India that its run of the river projects on Brahmaputra and other rivers are not meant for storing or diverting water.

“We look forward to work with China on this critical area of environmental and livelihood security,” she said. (ANI)