India Inaugurates New Consulate in Shanghai After 32 Years

New Delhi: India on Sunday inaugurated its new state-of-the-art Consulate building in Shanghai, marking the first relocation of the mission in 32 years. The upgraded facility aims to better serve India’s growing business community and diaspora in eastern China, covering key trade hubs such as Yiwu.
The new Chancery is located at the Dawning Centre in Changning District and spans 1,436.63 square meters, more than double the size of the previous premises. Indian Ambassador to China Pradeep Kumar Rawat formally opened the facility, which will begin full operations on December 8. Rawat highlighted the milestone as especially significant in the year India and China celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations.
Over 400 guests attended the opening, including members of the diplomatic corps, Shanghai municipal representatives, and Indian community members from cities under the Consulate’s jurisdiction, such as Hangzhou, Ningbo, Suzhou, and Nanjing.
Consul General Pratik Mathur emphasized the Consulate’s commitment to delivering seamless consular, commercial, and cultural services. He noted that consolidating functions on a single, modern floorplate will improve operational efficiency and public service, reflecting India’s people-centric governance approach under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.
The Dawning Centre’s location within the Hongqiao–Gubei foreign business corridor provides strategic advantages, with proximity to multinational corporations, diplomatic missions, and the Hongqiao transportation hub, facilitating greater engagement across eastern China.
The new Consulate comes at a time of renewed dynamism in India-China exchanges, including the launch of direct flights between India and Shanghai, expected to strengthen trade, travel, and business linkages. Mathur expressed hope that the new Chancery would serve not only as a diplomatic mission but also as a vibrant hub for friendship, commerce, culture, and people-to-people connections between India and the region.