India, China should build more 'reasonable international order': Chinese Embassy

The Chinese embassy in New Delhi has issued a statement calling for both countries to "deepen their cooperation to fight trade protectionism". 

The statement says practicing unilateral trade protectionism in the name of “national security” and “fair trade” will not only affect China’s economic development, but also undermine the external environment of India and hinder India’s booming economy". 

The statement comes at a time when China and US are engaged in a full-blown trade war with both the economic giants imposing tariffs on each others products. 

It is interesting to note that the statement was issued two days after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited China and met Jang Jiechi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

The statement from the Chinese embassy futher said that "facing unilateralism and bullying activities", China and India have greater reason to join "efforts to build a more just and reasonable international order".  

India and China have been trying to engage with each other in a more positive manner of late and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jingping have met three times in the last few months — at the famous Wuhan informal summit, at the SCO meet, and finally the BRICS summit in Johannesburg. 

They are likely to meet again on the sidelines of G20 summit in Argentina. 

The two sides jointly published the “Qingdao Declaration” and the 10th BRICS Summit Johannesburg declaration, sending out a clear message against protectionism. 

The Chinese embassy statement lashed out at the US. 

Calling US Vice-President Mike Pence’s statements "groundless accusations", the statement said "US should view and understand China's development in a right way and immediately stop its misguided comments and actions which harm China’s core interest. China is unswervingly pressing ahead with comprehensively deepening reform and opening wider to the outside world."

"China has initiated an unprecedented effort to influence American public opinion, the 2018 elections, and the environment leading into the 2020 presidential elections," Pence had said. US President Donald Trump had said the same thing at the United Nations Security Council in September.