NEW DELHI – India has cut red tape to speed business visas for Chinese professionals, two officials said, a major step to boost ties between the Asian giants and end chronic delays that cost output worth billions of dollars because of scarce technicians.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi cautiously rekindles ties with Beijing in the face of punishing US tariffs, the officials said New Delhi dropped a layer of bureaucratic scrutiny and shortened visa approval times to less than a month.

Reuters is the first to report the development.

India had blocked virtually all Chinese visits after the nuclear-armed neighbours

clashed on their Himalayan frontier in mid-2020

The issues around securing visas have now been completely resolved, said one of the officials with knowledge of the matter, who both spoke on condition of anonymity.

“We have removed the layer of administrative vetting and are processing the business visas within four weeks,” the official added.

India’s ministries of external affairs, home and trade, as well as the prime minister’s office and the top think-tank on policy, did not respond to e-mail requests for comment.

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The Observer Research Foundation, a think-tank, estimates the tougher scrutiny led to production losses of US$15 billion (S$19 billion) over four years to Indian electronics makers, which import key machinery from China to make mobile phones.

Major Chinese electronics companies, such as Xiaomi, struggled to get visas, Reuters reported in 2024.

Industry executives have said

such curbs hit their plans to expand in India

The removal of red tape comes after Mr Modi visited China in 2025 for the first time in seven years, meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping and discussing ways to improve ties.

Subsequently,

both countries resumed direct flights

The easing of curbs was prompted by a high-level committee headed by former Cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba, now a member of the top government think-tank, which also aims to ease investment curbs on China that hurt foreign investor sentiment.

“We welcome the government’s decision to expedite skilled-visa approvals for professionals from land-bordering countries,” said Mr Pankaj Mohindroo, head of industry body the Indian Cellular and Electronics Association.

“This reflects a collaborative approach and the government’s acceptance of our recommendations.”

The changes come at a crucial time for India, which is scaling up production across categories from finished goods to components and sub-assemblies, he added.

Warming China ties follow US tariffs

India’s warmer ties with China follow the surprise levy of a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods by US President Donald Trump, including a penal tariff of 25 per cent for buying Russian oil.

That prompted India to reshape its diplomatic calculus, reworking ties with China and strengthening ties with Russia, while continuing to negotiate a trade deal with Washington.

In this effort, Mr Modi has doubled down on focusing measures to boost growth by improving the environment for foreign investment, including business with China.

India also recently cut consumption tax and eased labour laws to lure foreign investors.

“We are cautiously easing some rules around restriction on China, which, we hope, will improve the overall business environment,” the second official said. REUTERS

ISLAMABAD – Truck driver Muhammad Afzal was not expecting to be stopped by police, let alone fined, as he drove into Islamabad this week because of the thick diesel fumes emanating from his exhaust pipe.

“This is unfair,” he said after being told to pay 1,000 rupees (S$14.30), with the threat of having his truck impounded if he did not “fix” the problem.

“I was coming from Lahore after getting my vehicle repaired. They pressed the accelerator to make it release smoke. It’s an injustice,” he told AFP.