Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will visit Beijing early next month to take part in the crucial 8th round of RCEP Ministerial meeting during which he is also expected to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart to discuss measures to address burgeoning bilateral trade deficit.

Goyal, who also heads the Ministries of Industries and Railways, would visit Beijing from August 2 to 3. He will be the first Indian minister to visit China after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government assumed power for the second term.

Goyal will take part in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Intersessional Ministerial meet, the Indian Embassy said on Thursday.
His visit is regarded crucial for both bilateral trade issues and the RCEP talks.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is also scheduled to visit Beijing next month.