Jaishankar: India must do business with China yet pursue self‑reliance

Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said in an interview with the Economic Times that India cannot ignore Beijing and must keep commercial channels open with China. He stressed that disengaging from the world’s second‑largest economy would be detrimental to India’s growth and strategic interests.
Jaishankar highlighted that many Indian industries rely on Chinese inputs, from electronics to pharmaceuticals, and that a pragmatic approach to trade is essential for sustaining the country’s development trajectory.
At the same time, the minister reiterated the government’s commitment to the Atmanirbhar Bharat agenda, urging faster indigenisation and diversification of supply chains to reduce over‑dependence on any single market.
He concluded that balancing economic engagement with China and a robust self‑reliant push will shape India’s foreign‑policy calculus in the years ahead.