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India and China will hold the fourth round of the Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (SED) on October 6 and 7 that will seek to strengthen cooperation in areas of infrastructure, energy, urbanisation and hi-tech products.
The last round was held in March in Beijing. This was preceded by the first two rounds in 2011 and 2012 in Beijing and New Delhi respectively. The idea was mooted by former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in December 2010.
However, this will be the first round of SED that will be held under the present Narendra Modi-led government.
“This time India is planning to propose some modifications to the working groups… We have asked for specific working groups under some of the broad ones,” said NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya.
He said this time the Chinese side will be led by Xu Shaoshi, Chairman, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) who will be bringing with him a high-powered delegation consisting an unprecedented 220 members.
The SED presently has five working groups — infrastructure, energy, environment, new and renewable energy and high technology cooperation.
India wants the working group on infrastructure to be split into two so that the cooperation on railways between both countries can be given more focus. Panagariya added that the issue on trade deficit with China may be discussed during the meeting.
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