National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC)

December 2010

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Planning Commission and NDRC was signed in December 2010. Through this MoU, the India–China Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) mechanism was established. The objective was to discuss challenges and explore possibilities of cooperation between sectors that were strategically important for the economic growth of the two countries.

Joint Working Groups
 

Infrastructure: Co-chaired by the executive director (infrastructure/system), Ministry of Railways, India, and the director-general, Department of Basic Industries, NDRC, China.

Energy: Co-chaired by the joint secretary, Ministry of Power, India, and the vice administrator, National Energy Administration, China.

High Tech: Co-chaired by the joint secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, India, and the director-general, Department of High-Tech Industry, NDRC, China.

Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection: Co-chaired by the joint secretary and mission director, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, India, and the director-general, Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection, NDRC, China.

Pharmaceuticals: Co-chaired by the joint secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, India, and the director-general, Department of Industry Development, NDRC, China.

Policy Coordination: Co-chaired by the senior adviser, NITI Aayog, India, and the director-general, Department of International Cooperation, NDRC, China.

• Anna Roy, Senior Adviser, NITI Aayog

• Ashok Kantha, Director, Institute of Chinese Studies and Former Indian Ambassador to China

• Naveen Srivastava, Joint Secretary, East Asia, Ministry of External Affairs

• Gautam Bambawale, Former Indian Ambassador to China

• Debjani Ghosh, President, NASSCOM

• Satish Mehta, CEO and MD, Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited

First India–China Strategic Economic Dialogue

The first India–China Strategic Economic Dialogue was held in Beijing on 26 September 2011. The Indian side was led by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and the Chinese side by NDRC Chairman Zhang Ping. The two sides had an in-depth and frank exchange of views on the world economic situation, respective domestic macro-economic conditions, and respective industrial, fiscal and monetary policies, among others. It was agreed to enhance pragmatic cooperation in economic sectors.
 

Second India–China Strategic Economic Dialogue

The second SED took place in New Delhi on 26 November 2012. The Indian side was led by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and the Chinese side by NDRC Chairman Zhang Ping. During the second meeting, the two sides discussed a wide range of topics, including greater cooperation at the global level, strengthening communication on macro-economic policies, deepening and expanding trade and investment, and promoting bilateral cooperation in the financial and infrastructure sectors.

Third India–China Strategic Economic Dialogue

The third SED took place in Beijing on 13 March 2014. The Indian side was led by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and the Chinese side by NDRC Chairman Xu Shaoshi. The two sides discussed world and domestic economic situations, macro-economic policies, deepening trade and investment relations, and cooperation in key industries. Both sides agreed to a joint study on urbanisation and energy planning.

Fourth India–China Strategic Economic Dialogue

The fourth SED took place in New Delhi on 7 October 2016. The Indian side was led by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Dr Arvind Panagariya and the Chinese side by NDRC Chairman Xu Shaoshi. Views were exchanged on global economic trends and macro-economic situation in both countries and an in-depth discussion was held on enhancing bilateral cooperation. 

Fifth India–China Strategic Economic Dialogue

The fifth edition of the India–China Strategic Economic Dialogue was held in Beijing on 14 April 2018. The Indian side was led by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Dr Rajiv Kumar and the Chinese side by NDRC Chairman Dr He Lifeng. Both sides exchanged in-depth views on global economic trends and the macro-economic situation of the two countries. Discussions were held on enhancing bilateral cooperation across the five interministerial working groups. During this dialogue, the sixth joint working group on pharmaceuticals was constituted.

Sixth India–China Strategic Economic Dialogue

The sixth SED took place in New Delhi from 7–9 September 2019. The Indian side was led by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Dr Rajiv Kumar and the Chinese side by NDRC Chairman Dr He Lifeng. Both sides engaged in focused and outcome-oriented discussions across core sectors of cooperation. They decided to address the issue of India’s mounting trade imbalance by considering the expansion of cooperation in agriculture and pharmaceutical exports.

• Feasibility study on the Chennai–Bengaluru–Mysuru railway-upgradation project and training of Indian Railways' senior management staff in China.

• Feasibility study of the Delhi–Nagpur high-speed railway project.

First India–China Economic Forum

First India–China Economic Forum organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and NDRC’s International Cooperation Centre on the sidelines of the sixth Strategic Economic Dialogue.

• MoU signed in December 2010

• First Dialogue held on 26 September 2011

• Second Dialogue held on 26 November 2012

• Third Dialogue held on 13 March 2014

• Fourth Dialogue held on 7 October 2016

• Fifth Dialogue held on 14 April 2018

• Sixth Dialogue held from 7-9 September 2019

• Upcoming Events: Seventh India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue