The India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) will be held in New Delhi on March 18-19.
The dialogue will be chaired by Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, India and Xu Shaoshi, Chairman, National Development and Reform Commission, China.
Held annually, the objective of the SED is to improve macro-economic policy coordination, promote exchanges on economic issues and enhance India-China economic cooperation. This year environment, sustainable development and technology are likely to be the focus areas.
2014 is being observed as the ‘Year of Friendly Exchanges.’ China is India’s largest trade partner, and bilateral trade between the two countries reached $64.47 billion in the year 2013. Talks are on to increase the figure to $100 billion by 2015. Last month, India’s National Security Advisor, Shiv Shankar Menon, met his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, at the 17th Special Representatives’ Meeting for the Boundary Issues in New Delhi. The meeting was followed by the Annual Defence Dialogue.