In the evening of 21 April, Chinese Consulate-General held a reception in ITC hotel to celebrate the success of 2022 West Bengal Global Business Summit. Some 150 honorable guests and dignitaries, including Mr. Rajiva Sinha, Chairman of West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation, Mr. Barun Kumar Ray, IAS, Principal Secretary of Labor Department, Government of West Bengal, Mr. Rajesh Sinha, IAS, Principal Secretary of Transportation Department, Government of West Bengal, Mr. Subrata Gupta, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary (Food Processing Industries and Horticulture Ministry), Mr. Pryardarshi Mishra, Chairman of Odisa State Housing Board, Mr. Binod Kumar, Kolkata Municipal Commissioner, Mr. Sandipan Saha, KMC Member Mayor-in-Council, Mr. Md Salim, Secretary of CPI(M) West Bengal, Father Dr. Dominic Savio, Principal of the St. Xavier college, leaders of major chambers of industry and commerce, industrialists, diplomats, honorary consuls, 23 representatives from 8 Chinese companies and business leaders from local Chinese community attended the reception. Kenya delegation attending BGBS also joined the reception.
Chinese Consul-General H.E. Mr Zha Liyou expressed sincere congratulation for the success of the West Global Business Summit and warm welcome to the 8 Chinese enterprises attending the Summit. He noted, in the past two years, the centenary pandemic wreak havoc in the world, global economy slid downward, Sino-Indian relations experienced ups and downs. Despite all of these, what is amazing is the contrarian growth of the trade and economic interaction between India and China. In the year of 2021, the bilateral volume of trade in goods has surpassed USD 100 billion (US$125.66 billion) and China remained the status as the biggest trade partner of India. This data sufficiently demonstrates that the strong demand for Sino-Indian economic cooperation is an irreversible fact and serves as the solid foundation for the development of mutually-beneficial coordination. And this breakthrough gets benefit from the endeavor and contributions made by business communities of both countries, including everybody here around. Thank you for what you have done for the development of friendly communication and practical co-operation between our two great countries. Looking at the future, the two giant economies which are on fast track of development with 1.4 billion people respectively should embrace great potential in further promoting trade and economic cooperation.
As an east Indian State adjacent to Southwest China, West Bengal has unique advantage in making a bigger cake of bilateral economic cooperation. As friendship provinces and cities, the trade and economic cooperation of Yunnan and its capital Kunming with West Bengal and its capital Kolkata should achieve comprehensive and breakthrough development under the endeavor of both sides from current status. Furthermore, Kolkata, the city with brilliant cultural, natural and human resources, possessing international airport and seaport, should no-doubtedly become East India’s hub and gateway of doing business with China, and should be the main force in promoting people to people exchange between our two great ancient civilized countries.
Consul-General Zha said, “During my 3 plus years in Kolkata, I have witnessed the fast social-economic growth in West Bengal with continuous improvement in people’s living condition and environment. The state government has not only achieved great accomplishment in people’s welfare, but also put forward various measures to boost the economy, such as upgrading infrastructure, developing industrial parks, information industries, rejuvenating traditional industries and cultivating technological talents. As the Consul-General of China in Kolkata, I feel happy to see these developments, and in the meantime I realize more clearly of my mission and responsibility—-to play our part in the social & economic development of the five East Indian States including West Bengal, and to promote the friendly exchange between East India and Chinese provinces.”
About Sino-Indian relations, Consul-General Zha especially highlighted the three-point proposal made by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Wang Yi during his recent visit to India. He said, First, both sides should view bilateral relations from a long-term perspective, adhere to the strategic judgment made by the leaders of the two countries that “China and India pose no threat but offer development opportunities to each other”. Second, both sides should view each other’s development with a win-win mentality, and forge a sound interaction model, so as to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results at a higher level and in a wider range. Third, both sides should participate in multilateral processes with a cooperative posture, step up communication and coordination, support each other, send more positive signals for upholding multilateralism, and inject more positive energy into improving global governance. If all our friends here today have deep understanding of Wang’s proposal and fulfill it together and faithfully, we will surely embrace a bright future with better bilateral relations created by our own hands.
Indian officials and entrepreneurs appreciated Zha’s proposal on developing bilateral relations and highly appraised Chinese side’s initiative in overcoming various difficulties to take part in the Summit and expressed willingness to work together with Chinese side to promote the bilateral economic cooperation to a new height.
Mr. Yang Xuhong, Deputy General Manager of Mumbai Branch, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, and Mr. Wang Tao, Managing Director of CRRC India Pvt. Ltd, delivered speeches at the reception. They both expressed that they held high expectation for Indian market and the prospect of Sino-Indian economic cooperation. They hoped to work together with Indian counterparts to accelerate the harvest of their cooperative projects.
Led by Consul-General Zha, the Chinese delegation is composed of 8 Chinese enterprises based in India, including Mumbai Branch, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, CRRC India Pvt. Ltd, China Construction Sausum(India) Pvt. Ltd, Dongfang Electric International Corporation, Ribest Ribbons and Bows (India) Pvt. Ltd, Muhao Battery Pvt. Ltd, Yingjia Communication Pvt. Ltd and LINDAO Mobiles Pvt. Ltd. During the Summit, Zha and his team members took part in all BGBS programs including a B2B session, and held a in-person interaction with Bharat Chamber of Commerce. They also participated in the Bengal Global Trade Expo 2022 which is on the sideline of BGBS.
