Beijing: India and China have reached an agreement on the reduction of tariffs on the import of Indian medicines, particularly cancer drugs, to China, the Foreign Ministry said here on Monday, days after a Chinese movie on a leukaemia patient highlighted the need for paving the way for import of cheap Indian medicines.
However, it is not yet clear whether China has agreed to grant licences to Indian companies to sell cancer drug in the vast market here, which could be a significant step.
About 4.3 million people are diagnosed with cancer annually in China, according to a report of the state-run China Central Television. Indian drugs, specially cancer-curing medicines, are in big demand in China as they are far cheaper than their western counterparts.
We have seen China and India have reached agreement on the reduction of tariffs on medicines. For specifics, I will refer you to relevant competent authorities, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing here on Monday.
We believe the expansion of imports and slashing of tariffs on anti-cancer medicines will also usher in great opportunities for India and other countries in the region, she added without providing any further detail.
Earlier in May, China had lifted tariffs on the import of cancer drugs. It was not clear whether Hua was referring to that announcement.