Marking a major milestone in India’s diplomatic presence in East China, the Consulate General of India in Shanghai inaugurated its new, state-of-the-art Chancery at the Dawning Centre in Changning District today. The relocation comes after 32 years of operations at the previous premises, signaling a significant upgrade in India’s capacity to serve both its citizens and its Chinese partners in the region.
The new Chancery was formally inaugurated by Pradeep Kumar Rawat, Ambassador of India to the People’s Republic of China, who attended the ceremony as Guest of Honour. Nearly 400 guests participated in the event, including members of the diplomatic corps, senior officials from the Shanghai Municipal Government, business leaders, academics, and representatives of the Indian community from Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Suzhou, Nanjing, Yiwu, Keqiao, and other cities under the Consulate’s jurisdiction.
Addressing the gathering, Consul General Shri Pratik Mathur expressed gratitude to the Ministry of External Affairs and Shanghai authorities for their support and collaboration throughout the relocation process. He reaffirmed the Consulate’s commitment to delivering seamless, efficient services to Indian nationals as well as strengthening engagement with Chinese stakeholders across East China.
The new premises — spanning 1,436.63 square metres on the entire 6th floor of the Grade-A Dawning Centre —more than double the operational space of the previous office at the Shanghai International Trade Centre. The expanded layout consolidates consular, commercial, cultural, and administrative sections onto a single, modern, and secure floorplate, enhancing both internal efficiency and the overall public service experience.
Highlighting the significance of the move, the Consul General noted that Shanghai hosts India's oldest consular presence in mainland China, making the upgrade particularly meaningful. He added that the Dawning Centre’s location in the Hongqiao–Gubei foreign business corridor—home to numerous diplomatic missions and major multinational corporations—offers the Consulate a strategic advantage.
Its proximity to the Hongqiao transportation hub and the Gubei international community further strengthens the Consulate’s outreach and accessibility for the growing Indian population and business community in East China. Reflecting on India’s broader governance philosophy, Shri Mathur said the move aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,” emphasizing inclusive, people-centric administration.
The upgraded Chancery, he said, embodies this commitment by enabling the Consulate to deliver improved services, host larger community engagements, and enhance its commercial and cultural outreach. The opening also comes at a moment of renewed momentum in India–China engagement. The Consul General highlighted recent developments such as the resumption of direct flights between India and
Shanghai, which are expected to boost business travel, tourism, and trade. The expanded and modernized facilities, he said, position the Consulate to better support this growing interaction. The Consulate General of India in Shanghai will commence full operations at the new Chancery from 8 December 2025
The opening also comes at a time of renewed dynamism in bilateral exchanges, he said, highlighting initiatives such as the recently opened direct flights between India and Shanghai, which will further strengthen trade, travel, and business linkages, making the enhanced capacity of the new Chancery particularly 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,” he said.
