Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong on Tuesday called for India and China to stand together against global hegemony and the rising tide of trade and tariff wars, in remarks that appeared to be aimed at US economic policies. Speaking at a reception hosted by the Chinese embassy in New Delhi to mark the anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Xu emphasised the importance of defending the interests of the Global South and reviving stable India-China ties.
The event, attended by senior Indian diplomats, comes amid a cautious thaw in relations between the two Asian giants, following more than four years of military tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The standoff, which began in 2020, had pushed bilateral ties to their lowest point in decades. “Eighty years on, it is all the more important that we carry forward the Great Spirit forged during the War of Resistance [World War II], firmly oppose hegemony, power politics, and any form of tariff and trade wars,” Xu said. “India and China must jointly defend the common interests of the Global South and build a community with a shared future for humanity.”
Though Xu stopped short of naming any specific country, his remarks were seen as a veiled criticism of US trade policies under both the Biden and previous Trump administrations. In recent years, Washington has imposed steep tariffs on Chinese exports and penalised Indian trade over issues such as New Delhi’s continued oil imports from Russia. US tariffs of up to 145 per cent on certain Chinese goods remain suspended only temporarily, pending the outcome of ongoing trade talks.
China seeks India’s support to oppose tariff wars Xu’s remarks come at a time when New Delhi and Beijing are exploring ways to stabilise and improve relations. After reaching an agreement last October to end the protracted border standoff, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping have held two high-level meetings - first in Russia and more recently during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China.
Xu described the most recent meeting as a sign of “a new level of improvement” in bilateral ties and outlined a four-point proposal for fostering long-term stability. This includes maintaining a strategic, long-term perspective; deepening mutual respect and trust; pursuing peaceful coexistence; and promoting common development through win-win cooperation.
The ambassador highlighted positive signs in the relationship, pointing to a 10.4 per cent year-on-year increase in bilateral trade, which reached $102 billion. He also noted the resumption of the revered Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage through the Tibet region - a key gesture of goodwill between the two nations.
In a further sign of normalization, the Chinese embassy and its consulates have issued more than 265,000 visas to Indian citizens so far this year, Xu said.
While relations remain fragile and the border issue unresolved, both sides appear willing to recalibrate. India has recently stepped up diplomatic engagement with the US and other Quad members, but it has also reiterated its interest in a multi-polar global order - a view that overlaps with Beijing’s emphasis on resisting Western-led hegemony. Observers say that while trade and diplomatic exchanges are improving, the real test will lie in whether the two nations can navigate their deep strategic mistrust and longstanding border disputes.