Chinese team interested in hydropower, infrastructure projects in India

Kolkata, Nov 19: A business delegation from China's Yunnan province, which is here to promote bilateral trade between the two countries, Wednesday expressed interest in hydro power development and infrastructure projects in India.

"We are here to explore the markets and will be interested in various bilateral trade relations," Li Jiashou, leader of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) team, said.

Jiashou was speaking to reporters here after signing an agreement for mutual cooperation for more economic and trade exchanges with Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Sanjay Budhia.

The CCPIT delegation has shown interest in developing hydro power development in India in build-operate-transfer (BOT) format or in supplying equipments for such projects.

The council is also keen on importing black tea from India and will export green tea to the country.

Yunnan is known for its rich mineral resources, tobacco, tourism and hydro power. It is the top tobacco-producing province in China. It is also the largest export base for fresh cut flowers in Asia.

"Yunnan and India need to do more in building the Kunming-Kolkata Economic Corridor and laying a better foundation for all-round and multi-level cooperation," Budhia said.

India's trade with China is greater than that with Japan and the US. "Bilateral trade between India and China will be $75 billion in 2010 and $225 billion in 2015," an optimistic Budhia said.

--IANS