Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c4.s2.107

v1.c4.s2.107

There was a revival of maritime trade between India and China based on the spectacular growth of the tea trade between China and Europe. Both before and after the arrival of European traders in the eastern waters from the 16ᵗʰ century CE, there was a flourishing intra-Asian maritime trade. The commercial connection between India and China was maintained through the larger intra-Asian trade. However, from the last quarter of the 18ᵗʰ century CE, there was a huge increase in the direct trade between the emerging port of Bombay on the west coast of India and Guangzhou (Canton) based on the export of raw cotton and later, opium from India to China. These exports were carried both by the British East India Company as well as by private Indian and Western traders.