China agreed to strive for the development of Chennai-Chongqing as “sister cities”
An Indian delegation, during a visit to China, interacts with the officials there to explore scope for growth projects on joint venture basis.
Chennai: The winding up of Finnish handset maker Nokia’s plant at Sriperumbudur may not turn out to be a loss to Tamil Nadu, as China has offered to develop the electronics industry in a big way besides pumping in huge sums of money into the state under the “Make in India” concept of PM Narendra Modi.China which is keen on promoting development in three Indian metros has in principle agreed to strive for the development of Chennai-Chongqing as “sister cities”. Besides, New Delhi and Mumbai are the other cities where Chinese expertise in railways and road infrastructure would be utilised. The Chongqing area is an industrial hub of and contributes nearly 20 per cent of laptop production in China.
“India and China have mutually agreed to develop Chennai and Chongqing as “sister cities” and a Chinese delegation under Wang Zheng, deputy director, Asia bureau of International Development of Central Committee, Communist Party of China, will visit the national capital on November 17 to cement the ties,” says A.P. Muruganandam, who was part of the 14-member Indian delegation under Siddharthnath Singh that had visited China recently.
During the 12-day trip, the delegation visited six provinces in China to explore the scope for trade and possible cooperation to promote industrial development. “Our’s is the only city in South India to be chosen for development under the Prime Minister’s unique concept in the first phase,” says Mr Muruganandam, who is national secretary of BJP Yuva Morcha. This would spur economic growth besides triggering employment opportunities, he added.
During the discussions with officials and representatives of the industrial promotion council there, China was said to have shown interest in agro products and medicinal plants from India. The state government would be consulted on what it could offer in return to Chongqing as part of “sister cities” initiative.
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