Referring to the US as a “bully” which is “using tariffs as a bargaining chip to demand exorbitant prices from various countries”, Xu Feihong, Beijing’s ambassador to Delhi, said Thursday that China “firmly opposes” the US decision to impose 50 per cent tariff on India and “will firmly stand with India to uphold the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core”.
Speaking at an event organised by New Delhi-based think tanks Chintan Research Foundation and the Centre for Global India Insights, Xu said at a time of “hegemony, protectionism, power politics and bullying”, China and India have the responsibility to take the lead in promoting an “equal and orderly multipolar world”.
Targeting the Trump administration, he said, “The United States has long benefited greatly from free trade, but now it is using tariffs as a bargaining chip to demand exorbitant prices from various countries. The United States has imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on India and even threatened for more. China firmly opposes it. In the face of such acts, silence or compromise only emboldens the bully. China will firmly stand with India to uphold the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core.”
“At present, tariff wars and trade wars are disrupting the global economic and trade system, power politics and the law of the jungle are prevalent, and international rules and order have suffered severe impacts. The Global South is highly concerned about how China and India can strengthen cooperation and take the lead to help developing countries overcome difficulties, and safeguard international fairness and justice,” he said, adding that “the essence of trade is to complement each-other’s advantages and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, not a calculation of who loses and who gains, nor should it become a tool for pursuing individual selfish interests”.
“China-India unity benefits the world at large. Standing at the forefront of the Global South, both China and India are important members of BRICS, SCO, G20 and other multilateral mechanisms, and pioneers in promoting reforms in global governance,” he said.
“At a time of hegemony, protectionism, power politics and bullying, China and India have the responsibility to take the lead in promoting an equal and orderly multipolar world and enhancing the representation and voice of developing countries in international affairs. When China and India join hands, there is great hope for the democratisation of international relations and the development and growth of the global South,” he said.
At the event attended by India’s former ambassador to Russia, D B Venkatesh Varma, and former Army chief, General Manoj Mukund Naravane (retired), the Chinese envoy said, “Since the Kazan meeting between the leaders of China and India last year, China-India relations have continued to improve and develop, and exchanges and cooperation between the two sides have gradually resumed in various fields and at all levels, with a series of positive results achieved.”
Recalling Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Delhi earlier this week, he said the two sides have reached important consensus on consolidating the improvement in momentum of bilateral relations, and deepening cooperation between the two countries on international and regional issues.
“Next week, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Tianjin to attend the SCO Summit. I believe this visit will inject new impetus to the improvement and development of China-India relations,” he said.
“Today, as long as China and India live in harmony and achieve mutual success, we can continue the ‘Asian miracle’ in the turbulent international situation and serve as the ‘ballast stone’ in safeguarding Asia’s security and stability,” he said, citing the principles of peaceful co-existence.
Alluding to the tension in ties over border issues, he said, “Looking back over the past 75 years, the development of China-India relations has not been completely smooth, but friendship and cooperation have always been the main theme. There may be many challenges ahead, but the direction of development of China-India relations should be clear, and unity and cooperation is our only option.”
PTI adds from Beijing: China expressed “surprise” over clarification by India over External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s reported comments related to the One-China policy during his talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi this week.
India Tuesday said there is no change in its position on Taiwan, and Delhi’s relationship with it focuses on economic, technology and cultural ties.
“We are surprised at India’s clarification,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a media briefing. She was replying to a question from China’s official media on reports of India’s clarification over Jaishankar’s remarks.
She said Beijing finds it “inconsistent with the facts”. “It would seem that some people in India have tried to undermine China’s sovereignty on the Taiwan question and impede the improvement of China-India relations. China expresses serious concern and firmly opposes that,” Mao said.
Chinese envoy Xu Feihong on Thursday. (Express Photo) 
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