China has pledged to address India’s requirements for rare earths, fertilisers, and tunnel boring machines, signaling an improvement in bilateral relations, Indian officials said on Tuesday. The announcement comes as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited India for the 24th round of border talks with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
During the discussions, Doval highlighted the progress in ties since the 2020 border clash. “There has been an upward trend. Borders have been quiet. There has been peace and tranquillity,” Doval said, adding that bilateral engagements have become “more substantial.”
Wang, in turn, noted that the setbacks of the past years were “not in the interests of the people of the two countries,” according to a translation by Indian news agency ANI.
An Indian source confirmed that Wang assured Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar that Beijing would take steps to address India’s concerns over fertilisers, rare earths, and tunnel boring machines. However, it remains unclear whether China will accelerate export licenses or provide broader exemptions for India.
China has previously expedited export approvals for Europe and the United States without dismantling its overall control regime. Exports of rare earths and related magnets surged in June after similar agreements, although shipments to India were still 58% lower than January levels, according to Chinese customs data.
India holds the world’s fifth-largest rare earth reserves, estimated at 6.9 million metric tons, but lacks domestic magnet production, making it heavily dependent on imports, primarily from China.
Wang is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, days ahead of Modi’s trip to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
Analysts say the talks reflect a cautious but steady thaw in relations as both countries work to stabilise their borders while addressing economic and strategic concerns.
Written By Rodney Mbua
