Greater state-level contact key to improved India-China ties: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the economic partnership between India and China would become a reality when the states and provinces of the two countries

establish closer contact.

"Our economic relations are growing rapidly. During President Xi's visit last year, we set for ourselves an ambitious plan to take our economic relations to a new level. We agreed on China setting up two

industrial parks in India - in Maharashtra and Gujarat. We have agreed on cooperation in the upgrading of India's railway sector. I have invited Chinese companies to invest in India's manufacturing sector. President Xi spoke of USD 20 billion dollars of Chinese investments over the next five years. Some of the business agreements will take shape in Shanghai tomorrow," Prime Minister Modi said, while speaking at the launch of the India-China Forum of State Provincial Leaders.

"I believe it will be much easier to translate our vision into reality if provincial and state governments come into closer contact. It will also serve our other interests - especially promoting greater people-to-people contacts, which is at the heart of all relationships," he added.

Speaking of some of the existing relationships, Prime Minister Modi said that both countries are taking their association beyond New Delhi and Beijing.

"Between India and China, we already have sister-state relationships between Gujarat and Guangdong. We also have a number of sister-city relations. During this visit, we will see the launch of Karnataka-Sichuan relations and four sister-city relationships. It is also consistent with this spirit that President Xi began his visit to India in Ahmedabad and I started this visit in Xian. These are welcome

developments. We are truly taking our relationship outside our national capitals to state capitals and cities," he said.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi was given a ceremonial welcome at the Eastern Plaza of the Great Hall of People. Prime Minister Modi and Premier Li, inspected the Guard of Honour before the national anthems of India and China were played at the venue.

This was followed by restrictive talks between the Prime Minister and Premier Li, after which both leaders witnessed the signing of a record 24 agreements worth USD 10 billion.

Prime Minister Modi will later meet National People's Congress (NPC) standing committee chairman Zhang Dejiang, before visiting the Tsinghua University, where he is scheduled to address the students. He will then visit the Temple of Heaven, where he will have his final engagement in the city: a yoga-tai chi joint event. In the evening, the Prime Minister shall depart for Shanghai, the third and final city he shall be visiting during his current tour of China.