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ZHU RONGJI TO ADDRESS BUSINESS ON JANUARY 16
Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Mr Zhu Rongji will address members of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on January 16, 2002 in
Mumbai.
Mr Rongji will be accompanied by a 140-member delegation comprising the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, Minister of Labour & Social Security, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice Minister of State Economic & Trade Commission and a business delegation from China Council for Promotion of International Trade.
The Premier would be visiting Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore during his 5-day trip to India. The Premier's visit assumes importance in the wake of China's entry into WTO in November 2001. The Chinese entry into the multilateral organisation impacts India as a close neighbour and partner.
This meeting is expected to provide the Indian Industry yet another platform to understand the potential of doing business with China and pave the way for newer business and trade relationships between the two countries.
China is an important trading partner of India and both countries are looking at improving the present level of bilateral trade and make it commensurate with the potential, given the size of the two countries.
Bilateral trade in 2000-01 has grown to US $ 2.297 billion with imports from China at US $ 1.468 billion and exports to China of US $ 0.829 billion. The growth in Indian exports was of the order of 53.92% as against the imports at 14.09%.
Some of the areas, which have been identified for further cooperation with China, include sectors like information technology and agro products. Indian industry is of the view that focus on some specific sectors would prove vital to increase trade with China.
The industry is looking for strengthening mutual understanding at government and business level.
The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Mr Vilas Rao Deshmukh will also address the meeting. |
