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China Seeks Stronger Trade Ties With India After WTO Ministerial Talks

Commerce ministers from India and China met on the sidelines of the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference in Cameroon. China expressed its readiness to strengthen bilateral economic and trade cooperation, describing it as a stabilizing "ballast." Meanwhile, Indian Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted India's push for preferential market access in trade talks with the United States, citing the country's strong economic position. The WTO conference itself focused on critical areas including reform, fisheries subsidies, and integrating smaller economies into global trade.

Key Points: China-India Trade Talks at WTO: Wang Meets Goyal

  • China proposes deeper trade engagement
  • India seeks preferential US market access
  • WTO conference addressed reforms & fisheries
  • Goyal held 36 sideline meetings
2 min read

China calls for stronger trade cooperation with India after ministerial talks during WTO conference

China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao meets India's Piyush Goyal at WTO, calls for deeper bilateral trade cooperation as a "ballast" in relations.

"China stands ready to work with India to fully leverage the role of bilateral economic and trade cooperation as a ballast. - Chinese Embassy Spokesperson"

New Delhi, April 3

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held a meeting with China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on the sidelines of the World Trade Organisation's 14th Ministerial Conference, aimed at strengthening bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

Informing about the meeting, the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India, in a social media post on Friday, stated that Wang Wentao met Goyal during the conference and expressed willingness to deepen engagement between the two countries.

It stated, "China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao met with Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry of India, during the 14th WTO ministerial conference. China stands ready to work with India to fully leverage the role of bilateral economic and trade cooperation as a ballast."

The WTO 14th Ministerial Conference was held from March 26 to 30, 2026, in Yaounde, Cameroon, bringing together ministers from across the world to discuss challenges and opportunities facing the global trading system and to shape the future agenda of the WTO.

Highlighting outcomes from recent WTO Ministerial engagements, Goyal on Thursday described it as very intense, spanning four days and covering seven critical areas, including WTO reform, fisheries subsidies, investment facilitation, e-commerce, agriculture and broader developmental concerns.

Minister Goyal asserted that India is pushing for "preferential access" and the "best possible deal" in its ongoing trade engagement with the United States, underlining that the country is currently in a "very sweet spot" among emerging economies.

"Our approach is that India should get preferential access, market access and, having got the best deal compared to any of our competitors or any other emerging or developing economy, we are sitting on a very sweet spot," Goyal said, projecting confidence in India's economic positioning.

He added that as the world's fastest-growing major economy, India offers a compelling India opportunity that global investors are expected to increasingly tap.

Among the key outcomes, member nations agreed to strengthen the integration of smaller economies into the multilateral trading system, with a focus on improving trade logistics, connectivity and border processes. Progress was also achieved on fisheries subsidies, particularly in tackling overcapacity, overfishing and illegal fishing, with consensus reached and ratified by participating countries.

On the sidelines of the WTO Ministerial, Goyal held extensive diplomatic outreach, including 12 multilateral and 24 bilateral meetings aimed at strengthening trade partnerships.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
It's positive to see diplomatic engagement at the WTO. Minister Goyal is right, India is in a sweet spot. We should leverage this position to get the best deals, not just with China but globally. Focus on tech and pharma exports!
R
Rohit P
China calling for stronger cooperation now? After all the border issues? First, they should create a conducive environment of trust. Trade can't be separated from overall relations. Jai Hind.
S
Sarah B
As an observer, the WTO talks sound productive. Improving trade logistics and border processes is crucial for global supply chains. Hope the focus on integrating smaller economies delivers real results.
V
Vikram M
The fisheries subsidy consensus is a big win! Overfishing hurts our coastal communities. Glad India is pushing its agenda effectively on multiple fronts at the WTO. Goyal sir seems to have had a packed schedule.
K
Karthik V
While engagement is necessary, I respectfully think we should diversify our trade partnerships more aggressively. Over-reliance on any one nation, especially with whom we have strategic differences, is risky. Let's focus on building stronger ties with ASEAN, EU, and the US.
A
Ananya R
"Compelling India opportunity" – love that phrase! It's true. The world needs a

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