Lok Sabha Question No. 1288 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-25
Subject: Trade Talks with China
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: UDIT RAJ

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1288 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH  JULY, 2016

## TRADE TALKS WITH CHINA

## 1288. DR. UDIT RAJ:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the administrative  agencies  in  China  have  not  responded  to  India's  demand  in three key sectors, viz. pharmaceutical, agriculture and IT services where the country has demonstrative strength;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether the Government has held any talks with the Chinese Government in this regard; and
- (d) if  so,  the  details  and  the  outcome  thereof  and  if  not,  the  next  course  of  action  of  the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a) to (d): India has consistently engaged with China on greater market access for India's exports to China, especially in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, IT services etc. India  has  regularly  sought  simplification  and  greater  transparency  in  China's  procedures relating to registration, inspection and approvals for Indian Products.

The  issue  of  market  access  for  Indian  products  like  pharmaceuticals,  agricultural  products and IT Services has been discussed at the highest levels of leadership of the two countries.

During the state visit of Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, to India from 17 to 19th September 2014, the Work Plan on Drug Administration and Cooperation was signed between Ministry of Health & Family Welfare of the Republic of India and China Food and Drug Administration of the People's Republic of China. The work plan envisages cooperation between the two sides in fields of drug standards, traditional medicine and drug testing, etc.

During the  3 rd India-China  Strategic  Economic  Dialogue  (SED)  a MoU  on  Cooperation  in Information  and  Communications  Technology  between  Ministry  of  Communications  and Information  Technology  of  Republic  of  India  and  Ministry  of  Industry  and  Information Technology  of  the  People's  Republic  of  China was  signed.  The  First  Meeting  of  the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Joint Working Group on Cooperation in ICT took place in New Delhi from 14-18 th December 2014.

In  the  Joint  Statement  issued  during  the  visit  of  Hon'ble  Prime  Minister  to  China  in  May 2015 it has been stated that, "The two sides resolved to take joint measures to alleviate the skewed  bilateral  trade  so  as  to  realize  its  sustainability.  Such  measures  will  include cooperation on pharmaceutical  supervision  including registration, speedier phytosanitary negotiations on agro-products for two-way trade, stronger links between Indian IT companies and Chinese enterprises, and increasing services trade in tourism,  films, healthcare, IT and logistics."

Commerce Secretary, during a meeting with Chief Inspector, Chinese General Administration of  Quality  Supervision,  Inspection  and  Quarantine  (AQSIQ),  on17 th September  2015  in Beijing, requested expedient clearance on the pending requests for market access for Indian agro  products.  Commerce  Secretary  also  met  the  Vice-Minister,  Ministry  of  Industry  & Information Technology (MIIT) of China on 17 th September 2015 and discussed the IT & IT Services  enablement  issues.  During  the  visit,  she  also  had  a  meeting  with  Chinese  ViceMinister, Ministry of Commerce, where market access issues on pharmaceuticals, agricultural products and IT services were again flagged.

On an invitation of Export Inspection Council of India, an expert delegation from  AQSIQ visited India in September 2015, for field verification of the surveillance and control system of Indian fishmeal/fish oil for enabling exports to China.

Under the India-China Joint Economic Group (JEG) mechanism, a Joint Working Group on Trade in Services has been set up to promote cooperation in IT/ITES and other sectors. The second meeting of Joint Working Group on Trade in Services was held in New Delhi on 23 rd October 2015.

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