BEIJING, 3 December 2020, (TON): China has started importing Indian rice after a gap of two years and placed orders for shipment of about 5,000 tonnes of non-basmati rice due to highly attractive prices offered by India compared to other nations.  All India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA) has confirmed having placed order by China, official said.

India is the world’s major exporter of rice, while China is the biggest importer to support its noodles and wine industry.

In 2006, China was given market access for Indian rice but it slowed down amid border tensions between the two nations.

The rice import by China from India could not even touch 150 tonnes of basmati rice till October 2020-21 fiscal. In last two months, China has placed orders for shipment of about 5,000 tonnes of non-basmati rice called broken rice from South India, AIREA Executive Director Vinod Kaul said.

The resumption of trade between China and India is being positively viewed, especially in neighbouring Pakistan as it is important for the peace in the region.