Hu promises help to give Mumbai a 'modern look'

Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao today assured all assistance to "give a modern look to Mumbai and encourage Chinese investments in Maharashtra".

"Mumbai is an important city in India and has the ability to become an important financial hub in Asia", Hu told Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh during a half-hour meeting at a south Mumbai luxury hotel.

"The Indo-Chinese friendship has been strengthened by the contribution of late Dr Dwarkadas Kotnis, who rendered humanitarian help in China", Hu told Deshmukh.

Hu also "praised" the efforts being made by the Maharashtra government for Mumbai's development, an official release said.

"We also would like to make the same efforts to transform Mumbai as the Chinese government did in case of Shanghai development", Deshmukh told Hu.

The chief minister said 71 special economic zones (SEZs) were being set up in Maharashtra. "We are following the example of China on this issue", Deshmukh said.

He called upon Chinese industrialists to invest in Maharashtra in areas like IT and biotechnology.

Deshmukh who hosted a luncheon for the Chinese president informed him that Bollywood was world's largest entertainment industry.

Briefing Hu on the development projects in Maharashtra, Deshmukh said the state was in the 'number one' position in the country.

"Increase of trade between China and Maharashtra would benefit India and China", Hu said adding that there were already some Chinese projects in Maharashtra, specially around Mumbai.

"More Chinese businessmen would be encouraged to invest in Maharashtra in near future", he assured.

Maharashtra Legislative Council chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh, opposition leader in the council, Pandurang Phundkar, finance minister Jayant Patil, industrialist Venugopal Dhoot, Vijaypat Singhania, Sarojkumar Poddar, S Ramadorai and state chief secretary D K Sankaran were present at the luncheon.