Source: The Global Times

Indian Foreign Ministersu jiesheng

[Global Times Special Correspondent Bai Yuan]"Indian Foreign Minister Sujaysen refuted speculation that recent diplomatic contacts between India and China were driven by U.S. trade actions." India's "News 18" reported on the 23rd that Sujesen said on the same day that he regarded the development of India-China relations as a direct response to changes in India-US relations. Such views are a "wrong analysis."

Su Jiesheng participated in a forum held by Indian media in New Delhi on the 23rd. According to several Indian media reports, Su Jiesheng responded to recent discussions among Indian public opinion on India-China and India-US relations at the forum. He said that things are not black or white."It's not that what happens between (India) and the United States will change immediately between (India) and China... Different issues have different timelines."

Su Jiesheng also emphasized that the relationship between New Delhi and Beijing is part of a long-term development trajectory and cannot be reduced to a one-time response to a specific global event. He also admitted that the current global pattern is developing and various bilateral relations, including India-China relations, are fluid,"but don't think too closely about this connection. This is not the case."

¡°News 18¡± mentioned that the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau member, Foreign Minister, Chinese Special Representative on China-India border issues Wang Yi visited India yesterday, and the two sides held the 24th meeting of the Special Representative on China-India border issues. Wang Yi also met with Sujetin, India¡¯s Prime Minister Modi met him and the high-level contact was carried out before Prime Minister Modi plans to travel to China to attend the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.

Indian media also mentioned that the background of Sujerson's statement was that the U.S. government has significantly increased tariffs on Indian goods because of India's purchase of Russian oil, causing tension between the two countries. Sujarson said at the forum that India has its own red lines in India-US trade negotiations and will resolutely protect the interests of Indian farmers and small producers, and will not compromise in this regard.

Regarding the United States 'accusation that India resold Russian oil to Europe and benefited from it, Sujesen said: "If you feel that there is a problem buying oil or refined oil from India, don't buy it. No one is forcing you. But when Europe buys it, so does the United States. So if you don't like it, don't buy it from us."

The Times of India mentioned that Jaishankar made the above remarks shortly after visiting Moscow, where he was received by Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials.

Further reading

Chinese Ambassador Speaks for India Indian Media: Unusual

On August 22 local time, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong delivered a speech on the development of China-India relations at the "SCO 2025 Summit: Reshaping China-India Relations" forum held in New Delhi, India. Xu Feihong spoke out for India, criticizing the US tariff threat against India, saying that "silence will only encourage bullying". He pointed out that China will "firmly stand with India".

Xu Feihong's speech attracted great attention from the Indian media, and they reported it under the title "Chinese ambassador supports India".

Among them, The Hindu called Mr. Xu's comments about third countries "unusual" as a diplomat in India, which The Hindustan said reflected a warming of relations between China and India amid growing tensions over trade differences.

Ambassador Xu Feihong attended an event in New Delhi on the 22nd Xu Feihong X account

¡°China firmly stands with the Indian side, safeguarding the multilateral trade system and safeguarding international fairness and justice,¡± Xu Fenghui said in a statement on social media.

According to Indian media reports, Xu Feihong pointed directly at the Trump administration in his speech, directly criticizing the US for imposing 50% tariffs on Indian goods. He pointed out that the "trade and tariff war" initiated by the United States has disrupted the multilateral trading system and called the United States a "bully".

"The United States has benefited a lot from free trade for a long time, but now it uses tariffs as a bargaining chip to demand high prices from other countries," Xu Feihong said, and China expressed "firm opposition" to the US move. He added that in the midst of "hegemonism, protectionism, power politics and bullying," China and India should take the lead in promoting an equal and orderly multipolar world.

Xu Feihong further pointed out: "In the face of such behavior, silence or compromise will only encourage the bully's arrogance."

The Hindu newspaper described the statement of Ambassador Xu Fenghui as "unusual", saying China has repeatedly criticized the Trump administration's tariff policy, but this is the first time China has expressed such clear support for the tariff measures implemented by the United States against India.

In his speech, Xu Feihong talked about Sino-Indian relations and called on the two countries to strengthen cooperation. He pointed out that the international order is undergoing great changes, which is why China and India, as major developing countries, should unite and cooperate with each other. "The friendship between China and India has benefited Asia. We are the twin engines of Asian economic growth. The unity between India and China has benefited the whole world."

He mentioned that in the past 10 months, relations between the two countries have improved, which is embodied in the increase of visas and high-level contacts. Data show that since the beginning of 2025, the bilateral trade volume between China and India has exceeded US $75 billion, a year-on-year increase of 10%.

When talking about trade issues, Xu Feihong pointed out that China welcomes Indian commodities to enter the Chinese market, and the two countries should strengthen "strategic mutual trust" and "avoid mutual suspicion". He said: "The two countries are partners, not competitors. We should manage our differences through dialogue."

"China welcomes more Indian enterprises to invest in China," Xu Feihong added. "China also hopes that India can provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises in India."

Xu Feihong cited data to point out that in 2025, China will still be one of India's largest trading partners, tweet screenshot

Indian media mentioned that Xu Feihong's speech came as Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Central Committee, had just completed a trip to India. China will host the SCO summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1 this year, and Indian Prime Minister Modi will be invited to visit China and attend the meeting.

Indian media pay close attention to Wang Yi's trip to India. India's New Delhi Television (NDTV) reported on the 19th that the visit is a "milestone" for China and India, the two major Asian countries, to adjust their relations to deal with the global chaos caused by Trump's tariff war. The title of the report emphasized this-in Trump's tariff war During the war, China pointed out to India: "Unilateral bullying is rampant."

Trump and Modi.

NDTV quoted sources as saying that China has pledged to address India¡¯s three key concerns ¨C fertilizer, rare earth and tunnel drillers ¨C among which, rare earth elements are critical to the manufacture of high-tech products such as smartphones and advanced military equipment, mainly concentrating refining production in China, which makes them strategic for global technology.

The Hindustan Times also reported that through this visit, China and India have achieved positive bilateral results. As relations between the two countries normalize, China will resume supplying India's urgently needed fertilizers, rare earth minerals and tunnel boring machines. In addition, Jaishankar emphasized that India's position on the Taiwan issue has not changed.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, from August 18 to 20, Foreign Minister Wang Yi was invited to visit India, met with Prime Minister Modi, held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs Suzhen, and held the 24th meeting of the Special Representative for China-India border issues with Indian national security adviser Dover.

When Modi met with Wang Yi on the 19th, he pointed out that both India and China are ancient civilizations and have a long history of friendly exchanges. In October last year, the meeting between the leaders of the two countries in Kazan was a turning point in the improvement and development of bilateral relations. India and China are partners rather than opponents, and both face the common task of accelerating development. We should strengthen exchanges, enhance understanding, and expand cooperation so that the world can feel the huge potential and bright prospects of India-China cooperation. Both sides must also manage and handle border issues steadily and not let differences turn into disputes.

Modi said that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and China. Both sides should view their relations from a long-term perspective. The arrival of the "Asian Century" cannot be separated from India-China cooperation. Working together, the two sides will contribute to world development and benefit all mankind.

Wang Yi said that China-India relations have experienced upheaval, the lessons of which are worth remembering. Regardless of the situation, the two sides should adhere to each other's position as a partner rather than an opponent, adhere to stable control and control differences, not allow border disputes to affect the overall situation of the two countries. Under the current international situation, the strategic significance of China-India relations is more highlighted, the strategic value of China-India cooperation is more prominent. We will seriously implement the important consensus of the two countries' leaders, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, promote China-India relations toward long-term stability, better benefit the people of the two countries, and make the due contribution to the cause of human progress.