China has asked India to counter jointly the growing threat of trade protectionism championed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
A statement issued by the Embassy of China in India said that attempts were being made to sow discord between China and India and they should not fall for such traps.
“Under the current circumstances, China and India need to deepen their cooperation to fight trade protectionism. As the two largest developing countries and major emerging markets, China and India are both in the vital stage of deepening reform and developing economy, and both need stable external environment,” Ji Rong, spokesperson of the Embassy, said.
The Chinese response comes in the wake of the escalating U.S.-China trade warfare that has soured ties between the two countries. The Embassy said the U.S. has provoked trade disputes, and asked it to introspect about “interfering” in the internal affairs of China and India in the guise of religious freedom and human rights.
The spokesperson said the U.S. was promoting protectionism while trying to keep India away from China by planting ideas that China’s financial support for developing countries would lead to a “debt trap”.
China wants to build on development partnerships with other countries in the region, the statement emphasised.
