The meeting is likely to take place before end of this month.China has sought talks with India to allay concerns on a regional free trade pact it is spearheading, two people familiar with matter said, as Beijing seeks newer markets amid ongoing trade war with US.The 16-country Regional Comprehensive Economic Agreement has been in works for a while and China is keen to conclude it by end of 2019, people said, asking not to be identified as matter is not public.
India's wariness about a possible flood of Chinese goods, and its demand for looser immigration rules for its tech professionals remain sticking points.China's inability to close trade deal highlights continuing suspicion among its Asian trading partners over Beijing's effort to increase its influence in region.
RCEP, along with Belt and Road Initiative to build investment and trade links with countries along old Silk Road to Europe, is a key element in China's efforts to seize geopolitical advantage following what many in region see as a US retreat under President Donald Trump.India's foreign ministry didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comments.
China's commerce and foreign affairs ministries didn't immediately respond to a fax.The meeting is likely to take place before end of this month, and Delhi has drawn up a list of issues it will take up with Asia's largest economy.
That includes providing zero-duty access to fewer Chinese goods as opposed to those offered to other members of RCEP.
It also will seek a longer period to phase out levies on Chinese goods compared to 20 years offered to others.India's imports from China have been rising for a while with deficit reaching $55.6 billion in 2017 compared to $48.19 billion in 2015.
A resolution of stalemate appears unlikely any time soon as RCEP member countries like Australia, India and Indonesia go into elections in 2019.Apart from China, India is planning to reach out to key players like Singapore and Australia to seek a consensus on these issues.