Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal (file photo)
| Photo Credit:
ANI
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said that India was working to rebuild ties with China once again but it was not yet known how it would pan out.
On relations with the US, the Minister said that India’s ties with the country were “very good” and said he did not see any problem.
“We are open to all countries around the world as long as we get a fair deal, as long as we ensure a continuity in the engagement, and as long as the geopolitical situation does not deteriorate. I think we had some concerns in the past. We are working to develop relations with China once again, but the last word has not yet been scripted on this journey,” Goyal said addressing the Bloomberg New Economy Forum on Wednesday.
The remarks on China come amid continuing concerns over the unresolved border question, which has been a major source of strain in bilateral ties since the 2020 eastern Ladakh standoff. Although ties have shown signs of a thaw following steps to ease border tensions and revive bilateral engagement, lingering uncertainties over the boundary question continue to cloud the rapprochement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed on the need to observe existing agreements and understandings on border-related issues in his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit last month that provide an opportunity for the two leaders to take stock of progress in stabilising relations and discuss the way forward.
China is one of India’s largest trading partners but the widening trade deficit remains a key concern for New Delhi. Investment flows from China is another area of strife. India has tightened its foreign direct investment (FDI) policy for countries sharing land borders with it, making investments from these countries subject to government approval. Beijing wants India to ease the restrictions.
On India’s relationship with the US under President Donald Trump, the Minister said that ties with the country are very good. “I don’t see any problem as we speak,” he said.
India and the US are trying to work out a bilateral trade agreement amid various tariff measures taken by Washington over the past year.
Goyal said that the two countries continue to have a very consequential relationship and engaged in areas such as defence exercises, ensuring open supply chains for technology, goods, and services.
Published on October 14, 2026
