Beijing: India on Sunday inaugurated its new state-of-the-art Consulate building in Shanghai, marking the mission’s first relocation in 32 years and significantly expanding its capacity in China’s main financial and commercial hub.
The Consulate General of India in Shanghai serves the rapidly growing Indian business community operating across eastern China, including major trading centres such as Yiwu, where a large number of Indian traders and enterprises are based. The relocation is regarded as a major upgrade for India’s oldest consular presence in mainland China.
The new Chancery, located in the prominent Dawning Centre in Shanghai’s Changning District, spans 1,436.63 square meters—more than double the size of the previous premises. Indian Ambassador to China Pradeep Kumar Rawat inaugurated the facility, which will become fully operational from December 8, the Consulate announced in a press release.
Highlighting the significance of the shift, Rawat said the year is particularly meaningful as India and China commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties. He noted that Shanghai has always held a unique place in India’s diplomatic and commercial engagement with China, and is now represented through a “world-class international level Consulate General of India.”
Large Gathering Marks the Opening
Over 400 guests attended the inauguration, including members of the diplomatic corps, officials from the Shanghai Municipal Government, and representatives of the Indian diaspora from cities such as Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Suzhou, Nanjing, Yiwu, and Keqiao—areas under the mission’s jurisdiction.
Addressing the gathering, Consul General Pratik Mathur reaffirmed the Consulate’s commitment to providing seamless services for both Indian nationals and Chinese partners. He thanked the Ministry of External Affairs and Shanghai authorities for their support in facilitating the expansion.
Mathur explained that the new premises allow for the consolidation of consular, commercial, cultural, and administrative functions on a single, secure, and modern floorplate. This integration, he said, will significantly enhance efficiency and improve public service delivery.
Strategic Location Offers Diplomatic Advantage
The Dawning Centre is situated in the Hongqiao–Gubei foreign business corridor, a district known for hosting several diplomatic missions and major multinational companies. This strategic placement gives the Indian Consulate an advantageous position for deeper engagement with the region’s business ecosystem.
Mathur also pointed to the building’s close proximity to the Hongqiao transportation hub and the Gubei international community—something that will support the Consulate’s expanding outreach and consular services across East China.
Reflecting on India’s inclusive governance approach, Mathur noted that the move aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” by ensuring improved access and better services for the Indian community and all stakeholders engaging with the mission.
Comes Amid Renewed Bilateral Momentum
The opening of the new Consulate coincides with a phase of renewed momentum in India-China exchanges, including the recent launch of direct flights between India and Shanghai. These developments are expected to further boost trade, travel, and business connectivity—making the expanded capacity of the new Chancery especially timely.
“As we step into this beautiful new chapter, let us together make this Chancery not just an office, but a vibrant hub of friendship, commerce, culture, and people-to-people ties between India and the Eastern China region,” Mathur said in his address shared on X.