| Confucius Says.... |
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| A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. |
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Interactive Session on "India-China Business Partnership"
Jointly Organized by ICEC & IMC - 11th August 2006 |
It was an evening where the Indian media and business community in association with the India China Economic and Cultural Council (ICEC) and Indian Merchants Chamber (IMC), open heartedly held a warm welcome to the newly appointed Chinese Deputy Consul General to India, Mr. Wang Zenhua. Held at the IMC Committee Room, at IMC, Mumbai, the room was abuzz with delegates from various fields, looking forward to hear more on the ever-growing positive developments arising between the two countries. |
The session commenced with a heartening welcome speech by IMC President Nayan Patel followed by a colorfully woven string of words spoken by ICEC Executive Vice-President Suresh Sharma, to felicitate the ‘fresh’ Deputy Consul General Wang Zenhua as well as Consul General Song Deheng, who were accompanied by their wives. |
Mr. Sharma made gave a lucid understanding of the ICEC as a platform to enhance and promote a strong bong of friendship between the two neighbours, India and China. Mr. Sharma also made significant mentions of the India Plus China Conference held in Beijing in December 2005 and repeated the same creed in April 2006 for organizing the first ever “Investment and Trade Development Conference” which was visited by prominent leaders and speakers in the field of trade and economics, both from China as well as India. He also spoke on the plans laid out by the ICEC to conduct regular “Meet the Media” sessions with an intention to bring India Plus China mindset into the mainstream and arouse wider public interest and support. “We plan to hold an India-China Conference on Tourism in December 2006, which would be another first of its kind. ICEC’s only goal is to work towards the cause of friendship between the two great nations India and China where a one-third of the world’s population dwells, by generating more people-to-people contact through cultural activities and business meets”, Mr. Sharma emphasized. |
After the felicitation, Consul General Song Deheng made some significant points during his extempore speech, which were noteworthy. He was overwhelmed by the huge response and warm-heartedness of the Indians who were present at the meet. |
Talking of bilateral trade between the two countries Mr. Deheng stated, that it was on the rise since early nineties, and was leaping in the past four or five years. "In 2002, two-way India-China trade was of the order of $4.9 billion; in 2003, it rose to $7.5 billion; in 2004 it further rose to $13.6 billion; in 2005 it was expected to be $18.7 billion and in 2006, it may surpass $20 billion. Our Ministers have met and set a new ambitious target of $50 million for 2010”, he said. |
Mr. Deheng urged the media to project China in a positive light in order to promote goodwill through the spirit of friendship and ignore the disputes that have happened in the past. He quoted that the recent resumption of the Nathu-la Pass should be seen as a significant break through in cross border trade and socio-economic development and not as an excuse for adverse military implications from China. |
With afresh positivity in his tone, the Consul General said that the Indian Defence Minister had recently stated in Beijing that China did not pose a threat to India's security and his countries’ leaders reaffirmed it and stressed that the world's two most populous countries should forge a closer cooperation not only for the good of Asia but of the world as a whole. Referring to observations made earlier by both Suresh Sharma and President Patel, he agreed that there was a definite need to promote people-to-people contact for not only achieving better awareness of each other's potentials and discovering complementarities, but also to promote two-way tourism for better understanding and appreciation of each other and also for reaping its economic benefits. |
“You have to open your borders not only for Chinese, but also to other foreign nationals. This is my advice to India. If two most populous nations cannot live in peace, there could be no peace in the world,” said the retiring Consul General. |
After these in-depth insights on the changing scenario of India-China relations, it was time for the guest of honour for the evening to speak. Deputy Consul General Wang Zenhua expressed his desire to work to the best of his capabilities towards creating a better environment for developing ties between the countries. |
This was followed by a small round of question-answer session with active participation from the audience and the regular informal one-to-one meet on tea and snacks. Prominent dignitaries to be seen in the session were the Chinese Consul for Culture, Political and Education Affairs Cui Hongjian, Chinese Consul for Commerce Zhu Darong, Consuls from Germany, Indonesia, South Africa, media thinker Nand kishore Nautiyal, senior representatives from famed institutions like World Trade Centre, Exim Bank and the Times Group amongst various others. |
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