The 6th India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue: Resource Conservation

India hosted the 6th India-China strategic and economic dialogue from 7-9th September 2019. This economic dialogue focused on collaboration between the two countries, primarily for resource conservation. 

A few other key topics covered were energy, high technology, infrastructure, policy coordination, etc. The countries also discussed regulatory procedures for ease of doing business, artificial intelligence research, high-tech manufacturing and next-generation mobile communications.

The NITI Aayog vice-chairman, Rajiv Kumar, was the chairperson on India’s side. At the same time, Dr He Lifeng of the National Development and Reforms Commission (NDRC) was the chair from China’s side. Apart from them, several senior dignitaries from policymaking, industry and academia were present at the meeting.

Background

In December 2010, the erstwhile Planning Commission and the NDRC agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This MoU laid the foundation of the Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) mechanism between India and China. 

The goal was to address difficulties and possible collaboration across strategically vital industries for both countries’ economic growth. 

Consequently, both countries held six strategic economic dialogues focused on economic policies, resource conservation, infrastructure, energy, etc.

The First Strategic Economic Dialogue

On 26th September 2011, Beijing hosted the inaugural India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue. Erstwhile Planning Commission’s deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia led the Indian delegation, while former NDRC chairman Zhang Ping led the Chinese delegation. 

The parties discussed the global economic situation, fiscal, industrial, domestic macroeconomic situations, and monetary policies, among other topics. They decided to improve pragmatic economic cooperation.

The Second Strategic Economic Dialogue

On 26th November 2012, New Delhi witnessed the second India-China strategic economic dialogue. Ahluwalia led the Indian delegation, while former NDRC chairman Zhang led the Chinese delegation again. 

The two countries held talks over various issues at the second meeting, including: 

• Increasing global cooperation

• Improving macroeconomic policy communication

• Deepening and growing trade and investment

• Encouraging bilateral cooperation in the finance and infrastructure sectors.

The Third Strategic Economic Dialogue

On 13th March 2014, Beijing hosted the third SED. Ahluwalia led the Indian delegation, while the then NDRC chairman Xu Shaoshi led the Chinese delegation. 

Both sides talked about global and domestic economic conditions, macroeconomic policies, expanding trade and investment ties, and collaboration in critical industries. Both parties agreed to collaborate on urbanisation and energy planning research.

The Fourth Strategic Economic Dialogue

On 7th October 2016, New Delhi hosted the fourth SED. This time, Dr Arvind Panagariya, former vice-chairman of the NITI Aayog, led the Indian delegation, and NDRC chairman Xu Shaoshi led the Chinese delegation. 

The parties exchanged views on global economic trends and the macroeconomic condition in both nations. They also had a detailed debate on how to improve bilateral collaboration.

The Fifth Strategic Economic Dialogue

On 14th April 2018, Beijing hosted the fifth iteration of the India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue. NITI Aayog vice-chairman Kumar headed the Indian delegation, while NDRC Chairman Dr He led the Chinese delegation. 

Both sides discussed global economic developments and the macroeconomic position in their respective countries. There were discussions about improving bilateral collaboration across five inter-ministerial groups. 

The countries formed the sixth collaborative working group on medicines during this discussion.

The Sixth Strategic Economic Dialogue

India and China held the sixth strategic economic dialogue in New Delhi on 7-9th September 2019. Kumar and Dr He were again the chairpersons of the dialogue. 

Both sides had focused and result-oriented discussions across core cooperation sectors. It concerned resource conservation, infrastructure, energy, high-tech, resource conservation, pharmaceuticals, and policy coordination. They also agreed to address India’s growing trade disparity by looking into expanding agricultural and pharmaceutical export cooperation.

Administrative Reforms Commission

The Administrative Reforms Commission was founded on 5th January 1966 by the Government of India, with Morarji Desai as the chairman. The Administrative Reforms Commission’s creation was to gather ideas for bringing reforms to restructure the administration and execute the different modified policies. The Administrative Reforms Commission’s principal task was to analyse Indian public administration and recommend changes to the existing structure.

First Administrative Reforms Commission

The First Administrative Reforms Commission submitted 20 reports and gave five thirty-seven main recommendations. The recommendations concerned the Official Secrets Act, Governmental Privilege in Evidence, the Oath of secrecy, exempted organisations, Central Civil Services Rules, Manual of Office Procedure, classification of information, etc.

Second Administrative Reforms Commission

On 31st August 2005, the second session of the Administrative Reforms Commission took place. Veerappa Moily was the chairman of this session. The Administrative Reforms Commission targeted developing a more long-term, accountable, and effective administrative system.

The commission showcased 15 reports, including reports on the most crucial right, the right to information (RTI). It presented RTI as a vital tool for governance that can be effective, e-governance promotion, public order, crisis management, local government, administration of the local and state, and more. It also gave almost 1,500 recommendations on the reports made. Most of them were for the State governments.

Conclusion

Since the agreement between the former Planning Commission of India and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China, Strategic Economic Development talks have been significant, especially the sixth SED in 2019. The bilateral trade between India and China was $87 billion in 2018-19, with a $50 billion trade deficit in China’s favour.

As far as the administrative reforms commission is considered, two commissions are yet to be formed. However, many of their recommendations have already been vetted and accepted by the government in their current form.