China concerned over Indian trade probes

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-24 18:00

BEIJING -- China Saturday expressed "serious concerns" over India's anti-subsidy investigation on sodium nitrite on January 14 and probe into the special safeguard measure of sodium carbonate on January 16.

Following bilateral consultations, China has urged domestic businesses to contact their Indian peers and solve trade issues through talks and cooperation, Yao Jian, spokesman of the Ministry of Commerce, said in a statement.

But India didn't respond to Chinese efforts and launched its first anti-subsidy probe over Chinese-made sodium nitrite, Yao said. "China expresses dissatisfaction over it," he noted.

China also expressed resolute opposition to India's probe into the special safeguard measure of sodium carbonate, the spokesman stated.

The probe not only hurts the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese businesses, but has negative impact on the stable bilateral trade relations, Yao said.

The current global financial crisis has serious impact on the economies worldwide and all nations need to boost cooperation in fighting the crisis, he said.

China hoped that India could show prudence and restraint in using trade remedies, as trade protectionism could only add to the grim world trade situation.

He added that China and India should step up consultations and promote cooperation among industries from the two developing nations.