Strong Sino-India Relations Have Huge Potential for Economic and Trade Cooperation: Consul General Zha Liyou
China and India share extensive common interests and have huge potential for economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, said a top official in Kolkata on Tuesday.
“As two ancient civilizations living side by side for thousands of years, China and India share extensive common interests and have huge potential for economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. In the first half year, China-India trade volume hit a record high with a year-on-year increase of 62.7 per cent. We should work together to promote the sound development of bilateral economic cooperation for the benefit of our people,” said Mr. Zha Liyou, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kolkata, on the sidelines of hosting an online meet of the Celebration of the 72nd National Day of the People’s Republic of China over Zoom.
We also need to strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, increase mutual trust, properly manage differences, and firmly sticks to the correct direction of China-India relations, Mr Zha added.
Talking about the severe challenges being faced due to the worldly economic downturn, Mr Zha said that China promotes the resumption of production in an orderly manner, and actively maintains the stability of the global industrial supply chain, which is conducive to world economic recovery. “China also vigorously enhances the high-quality development of the “Belt and Road” initiative and provides new development opportunities for the world,” Mr Zha said.
Further elaborating, Mr Zha explained that in the face of anachronistic unilateralism and protectionism, China holds high the banner of multilateralism, adheres to the path of peaceful development, actively participates in global governance and international cooperation in coping with the threats from climate change, cyber security and terrorism etc. and advocates the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
When being asked to comment on the growth in China, Mr Zha said that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, China continues its socialist development this year. In the first half of this year, China’s GDP has increased 12.7% year-on-year. Covid-19 is well controlled. “Major scientific and technological breakthroughs continue to emerge. And all the poor people are lifted out of poverty. The Chinese government have taken a series of measures to rectify the entertainment circle, implement “double reductions” in education (to reduce students’ amount of homework, and ban or at least drastically reduce after-school training classes), a crackdown on the disorderly expansion of private capital, and curb the real estate industry, which significantly enhances people’s sense of happiness,” Mr Zha said.
Talking about the Indian economy, Mr Zha said that he is happy to see the Indian economy achieved a record growth of more than 20% from April to June this year despite the effect of the second wave of COVID-19, and is expected to increase by more than 7% throughout the year.
“The rapid economic growth of India not only improves the living standards of Indian people, but also injects new impetus into Asian and global economies. I believe the Indian economy will maintain a good momentum of rapid growth, with great efforts of Indian people,” Mr Zha added.
When the Consulate General was asked how China tackled the Covid crisis, Mr. Zha said that China upholds the principle of putting people and their lives first, promotes the spirit of science and conducts in-depth international anti-epidemic cooperation. So far, it has provided nearly 1.2 billion doses of vaccines to more than 100 countries and international organizations, being the biggest vaccine provider in the world.
“Although Covid-19 epidemic still prevails and China-India relations is at a low ebb, I firmly believe as long as we work together, we will surely win the battle against the epidemic and usher in a new era for China-India relations,” Mr Zha concluded.
Mr Yu Xiong-Deputy Consul General was the moderator for the online meet. On this auspicious occasion noted personalities like Mr. Priyadarshi Mishra, BJD Spokesperson, Chairman of Odisha State Housing Board, Mr. Chandra Kumar Bose, former Vice President of BJP West Bengal, Mr. Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty, former Additional Chief Secretary, Chattisgarh, Director General, National Museum, Dr. S K Verma, Advocate, Supreme Court, Ms.Rosalin Patasani Mishra, President of Parichay Foundation, Sunondo Banerjee, COO – Anonymous Digital, Ms Minnie Sengupta, Principal Birla high school, Mukundopur, Sagar Daryani Co- Founder & CEO, Wow! Momo &. Wow! China Kaushik Ghosh, Director, Bengal National chamber of commerce WB graced the online celebration. Other eminent personalities included Mr Md Salim, CPIM Politburo member,
Mr. Zhang Chengli, Mr. Chen Yaohua, President of All Indian Overseas Chinese Association, and Master Hui Rong were present among the others.
