
China plans to ban new cars from being resold within six months after registration

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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
India restarts visas for Chinese tourists after a 5-year pause
India on Wednesday announced the resumption of tourist visas for Chinese nationals, making another step in the normalisation of bilateral ties that were taken to their lowest point in six decades by a military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets China President Xi Jinping, in Beijing. (@DrSJaishankar X) The move, unveiled by the Indian embassy in Beijing on social media, came almost two months after India and China agreed in April on the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a gap of five years – seen as the first major breakthrough in people-to-people exchanges. A post on WeChat by the Indian embassy in Beijing said Chinese nationals could apply for tourist visas to visit India by filling applications online from July 24. The post said applicants could then book appointments to submit documents at centres in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Barring the social media post, there was no official word from the Indian side on the development. People familiar with the matter confirmed the resumption of tourist visas for Chinese citizens and said on condition of anonymity that the process for accepting applications will now commence. India had imposed wide-ranging restrictions on visas for Chinese nationals after border skirmishes between troops of the two countries in April-May 2020 triggered the face-off in Ladakh sector of the LAC. A brutal clash in Galwan Valley in June 2020 that killed 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops sent bilateral ties plummeting to their lowest point since the border war of 1962. China did not impose restrictions on visas for Indian nationals though travel between the two countries was impacted by the lack of direct flights. China issued about 85,000 visas to Indians, mainly students, tourists and business professionals, between January and June 2025. Before the Covid-19 pandemic and the standoff on the LAC, India issued almost 200,000 visas to Chinese nationals in 2019, but the figure declined to just 2,000 in 2024. The two sides reached an understanding on disengagement of forces along the LAC last October, and this was followed by a meeting in the Russian city of Kazan between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping, who agreed to revive several mechanisms to normalise bilateral relations and address the long-standing border dispute. Since then, there have been several meetings between the foreign and defence ministers and national security advisers of India and China, and the Special Representatives for the border issue – NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi. These meetings have resulted in forward movement in normalising relations, including the resumption of the Kailash Mansaorvar pilgrimage to a holy mountain and lake in Tibet. External affairs minister S Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on July 14 when he visited China for a meeting of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and discussed ways to take bilateral ties forward. This was Jaishankar's first visit to China after the start of the stand-off on the LAC. 'The two sides agreed to take additional practical steps, including travel to each other's country and direct flight connectivity, for facilitating people-to-people exchanges,' an Indian readout issued after the meeting said. Jaishankar said at the meeting that India and China must build on 'good progress' in normalising their relations by addressing issues related to the border, including de-escalation, and avoiding 'restrictive trade measures and roadblocks' to economic cooperation. He was referring to China's curbs on exports of rare earth minerals – in many of which Beijing has a near monopoly – and fertilisers. The restrictions on rare earth exports have been officially raised through diplomatic channels by India, especially in view of the impact on manufacturers of electric vehicles.


Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
China plans crackdown on zero-mileage used car sales
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Shanghai: China's industry ministry is planning to ban the resale of cars within six months of their initial registration as part of efforts to combat sales of so-called zero-mileage used cars , an industry association publication reported on used cars have emerged in China as a result of the uniquely cut-throat competition for sales in the world's largest auto market, which is reeling from a brutal, years-long price war caused by chronic practice involves insuring a new vehicle before it is sold, allowing automakers and their dealers to meet sales targets. But it can create hassles for Review, a publication run by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, reported the plan in an editorial published on its WeChat account. It said that the China Automobile Dealers Association , another industry group, had separately proposed a code system for exports of used editorial added that Chery and BYD were among companies planning to hold dealers accountable for violations, including licensing cars before they are measures, if enforced, would mark the first policy action taken by the Chinese government to stop the practice, which became a nationwide issue after Great Wall Motor CEO Wei Jianjun called it out in May.
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business Standard
What are zero-mileage used cars & why is China planning to ban their sale?
China's ministry of industry is looking to ban the resale of vehicles within six months of their first registration, in a move to clamp down on the sale of so-called zero-mileage used cars, according to Auto Review, a publication backed by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. What are zero-mileage used cars? These vehicles are technically listed as used but have barely or never been driven. They appear as a result of intense competition in the Chinese car market, where manufacturers and dealers insure and register new cars without actual buyers in order to meet sales targets. This practice has grown widespread due to years of aggressive price cuts and oversupply in the world's largest automotive market. However, it often creates complications for customers who later purchase these vehicles. Why is the resale of zero-mileage used cars an issue? Misleading sales figures: Registering unsold cars as 'sold' distorts true market demand. This gives a false impression of a company's performance, affecting industry data and potentially misleading investors. Buyer inconveniences: Customers who purchase zero-mileage used cars might face warranty issues, as coverage usually starts from the date of initial registration. These cars may also have lower resale value and come with insurance or registration documents that are older than expected. Abuse of subsidies and export rules: Some manufacturers have reportedly used such cars to wrongly claim government subsidies for new energy vehicles (NEVs), which are based on sales numbers. Others may label these cars as 'used' to ease export restrictions, as some countries have looser rules for used vehicle imports. Proposed measures and industry pushback The Auto Review editorial stated that the China Automobile Dealers Association has also suggested introducing a coding system to regulate used car exports. Additionally, automakers like Chery and BYD are reportedly planning to penalise dealers who license cars before they are genuinely sold. If implemented, these measures would represent the first government-led effort to address the issue on a national scale. Mounting pressure for action The issue gained public attention in May when Great Wall Motor CEO Wei Jianjun criticised the practice. Since then, signs have emerged that central authorities are preparing a crackdown. Last month, a Communist Party newspaper published a piece criticising the trend, and on Friday (July 18), the Chinese cabinet said it would work to rein in what it called 'irrational' competition in the domestic automotive industry.