Chinese vice president calls for furthering cooperation between China, Indian state of West Bengal

Visiting Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao Thursday called for furthering cooperation between China and the eastern Indian state of West Bengal in economic, trade, cultural, educational and tourism fields.

He made the statement during his separate meetings here with West Bengal State Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

During his meeting with Tripathi, Li said this is the first time for him to visit India in 10 years and he was impressed by the new economic and social development of the country.

He said the West Bengal State has a huge potential for future development and he firmly believed the state would achieve greater achievement in economic and social development.

Li said the leaders of China and India have agreed to build closer ties.

He also said that China's Yunnan Province and West Bengal State maintain close and frequent exchanges while the cities of Kunming city and Kolkata have signed an agreement of sister cities.

Li expressed his hope that West Bengal State would continue to take advantage of its own strength in joining the fast development of Sino-Indian relations, and promoting economic, people-to-people ties and supporting the construction of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar economic corridor project.

Tripathi said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping have visited each other's countries and India-China relations have entered a new phase of development.

He said West Bengal State is willing to have more exchanges with China in all fields to deepen economic, educational, scientific and technological cooperation.

During his meeting with Banerjee, Li said that China and India have enjoyed continuous friendly relations since ancient times and China and India now have started to experience a new era of friendship cooperation.

He said that the two countries are working hard to strengthen traditional friendship, increase mutual trust, make breakthroughs in economic cooperation, trade, infrastructure construction, industrial parks and tourism.

Li said that West Bengal, which is showing good momentum of fast development, is geographically close to China and its capital Kolkata has many ethnic Chinese people.

He said China is willing to deepen cooperation with West Bengal and backs provincial and municipal level cooperation with the state.

Li said China also wishes to make investment in the state through its enterprises and that the local government has provided a sound legal and business environment.

Li also said that China welcomes West Bengal to promote its image in China to attract more Chinese tourists.

Banerjee expressed warm welcome to Li to visit her state. She said that the momentum in a strong development of India-China relations is worth celebrating.

The chief minister also said her state is enjoying deeper friendly ties with China and carrying out dynamic cooperation with China in trade, manufacturing, education and tourism, which she said the state is ready to push into greater depth. Enditem