Chinese vice president visits Ajanta caves in Aurangabad

Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao on Wednesday visited the Ajanta Caves here in Maharashtra, at the start of his five-day visit to India, officials said.

Aurangabad mayor T.G. Tupe along with municipal commissioner Prakash Mahajan and other civic officials made a courtesy call on the visiting dignitary in the afternoon at the hotel he is staying.

Aurangabad is exploring means to strengthen bilateral ties with the Chinese city of Duo-Hong in Gansu province from where a five-member delegations had visited this Maharashtra city in March.

In close proximity to the two Unesco World Heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora caves, Aurangabad receives a large number of Chinese tourists, who also visit Bodh Gaya and other centres of interest for Buddhists.

The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation has been promoting Ajanta and Ellora caves in China in a bid to attract more tourists from that country.

The Chinese leader arrived here on Tuesday night and is expected to leave for Kolkata on Wednesday evening.