Cotton, copper, construction materials, and organic chemicals are major shipments from India. That's while machinery, steel, and fertilizers are major Chinese imports to India.

Bilateral trade stood at 71 billion US dollars last year. That was down 1.1 percent from 2014. Meanwhile, India's exports shed 27 percent while China's exports climbed 4.9 percent. 

Sluggish demand has dragged on India's foreign trade. Its trade with several of its largest partners decreased last year. Its trade with China fell 27 percent, trade with Singapore slipped 24 percent and trade with the United Arab Emirates declined 7.9 percent. US exports were cut 5 percent.