China to ban pork imports from India to 'prevent swine fever': Report

Citing concerns regarding African swine fever (ASF), China has announced that it will put a ban on imports of pigs, wild boar and related products from India.

Chinese state media Global Times quoted a joint notice issued by the General Administration of Customs of China and the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, saying that China is set to ban imports of pigs, wild boar and related products from India.

The ban comes amid border tensions between Beijing and Delhi. Global Times reported that "the ban comes after tensions between the two countries flared up in Galwan Valley region," which it blamed on "India's recent, illegal construction of defence facilities on the border to Chinese territory".

According to the daily, India reported its first case of ASF in both domestic pigs and wild boars in Assam earlier this month. The disease has killed more than 14,000 pigs in Assam, according to media reports.

On the border front, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on Thursday said that India is engaged with the Chinese side to resolve the border issue peacefully.

New Delhi's remarks come a day after Chinese Ambassador to India, Sun Weidong, said the two countries pose no threat to each other and should resolve their differences through communication while not allowing them to overshadow bilateral relations.