India sends first business delegation to China since border clashes

India has sent a business delegation to China for the first time in six years, signalling a continued thaw in relations between the two countries after years of tension following the 2020 border clashes.

According to The Times of India, the delegation — comprising representatives from the chambers of commerce and industry of Punjab and Haryana — is visiting Shanghai and Jiangsu province. The trip is focused on exploring investment opportunities and exchanging expertise in key sectors, including renewable energy, electric vehicles, telecommunications, and information technology.

The visit is also aimed at strengthening India’s economic development and fostering innovation in the lead-up to the centenary of the country’s independence in 2047.

During the trip, Indian business representatives held meetings with executives from Chinese companies and financial institutions, including Wuxi Technology Development, which expressed interest in potential cooperation.

The recent improvement in ties between New Delhi and Beijing follows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China in 2025 for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin. In the aftermath of that visit, the two sides resumed direct flights and cross-border trade, both of which had been suspended after the 2020 clashes along the Line of Actual Control in the Himalayas.

By Tamilla Hasanova