China, July 3:

China will take necessary measures to protect the legal interests of Chinese firms operating in India, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday in response to a series of measures taken by India against China. 

Zhao Lijian, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, said that pragmatic cooperation between China and India is mutually beneficial and win-win, and man-made obstacles for cooperation between the two countries violate the relevant WTO rules and will also harm India’s own interests.

His comments came after a series of measures were taken by the Indian government against China after the border tensions between the two countries reached their pinnacle in June.

Media outlets reported that India’s Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari stated that Chinese companies will not be allowed to participate in India’s future highway projects, with reports saying that “100 percent” of imported goods from China to India are being physically checked in the wake of the recent border clash, resulting in Indian ports piling up with Chinese goods. 

Meanwhile, the Indian government has started domestic consultations to decide on the use of 5G, seen as a precursor to a possible ban on Huawei and ZTE, the Times of India reported on Tuesday. The talks came in the wake of discussions to block 59 mobile apps developed by Chinese firms. 

Zhao said China hopes the two countries act in accordance with the consensus reached by the countries’ two leaders; strictly abide by the agreements signed by the two governments; properly handle border tensions through existing military and diplomatic channels, and jointly maintain peace on the border of the two countries.

Both sides should respect and support each other to ensure the long-term interests of both countries, he said. 

“The Indian side should not make a strategic misjudgment on China, and we hope that the Indian side can work with China to jointly safeguard the overall situation of bilateral relations,” Zhao said 

China has not taken any restrictive or discriminatory measures against Indian products and services, said Commerce Ministry spokesperson Gao Feng at a press briefing on Thursday.