Meeting between Chinese and Indian leaders, supporting the 2016 India International Trade Fair

Yesterday, on May 26, President Xi Jinping met with Indian President Mukherjee at the Great Hall of the People. The two heads of state agreed to work together to strengthen comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, elevate the China-India strategic partnership to new heights, promote mutual development, and make greater contributions to regional and world peace and prosperity.

During the meeting, the Chinese side stated that both sides should unleash the potential for pragmatic cooperation, promote early harvests in cooperation on railways, industrial parks, and smart cities, explore complementary advantages in industries such as new energy, energy conservation and environmental protection, information technology, and human resources, and strengthen cooperation in areas such as production capacity, investment, tourism, and service trade. Strengthening people-to-people ties, actively implementing the China-India cultural exchange plan will continue. The Chinese side also expressed its willingness to discuss with the Indian side simplifying various procedures to facilitate trade and personnel exchanges between the two countries, and to strengthen local exchanges in real time. Both sides will support each other and closely coordinate the successful holding of the 2016 G20 Leaders' Summit and the BRICS Leaders' Meeting.

　The Chinese side is willing to discuss with the Indian side the alignment of the "Act East" initiative with the "Belt and Road" initiative. Both sides should strive to achieve substantive progress in the construction of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor as soon as possible, jointly build the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank into a professional and efficient infrastructure financing platform, and promote the early completion of negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

The India International Trade Fair, held in New Delhi in November this year, is one of Asia's largest trade fairs. It is organized by the Indian Trade Promotion Organization and traditionally inaugurated by the President or Prime Minister. It is known as the "India Canton Fair." In 2016, China will participate as the guest country of honor, providing Chinese exhibitors with more opportunities for product and corporate promotion. This is a rare opportunity.

According to feedback from Zhenghe International from the previous session, the exhibition covers a wide range of areas, including engineering machinery and parts, food and processing equipment, light industry textiles, textile clothing and machinery, home appliances and related equipment, communications electronics, paper products and papermaking equipment and parts, plastics and rubber products, energy-saving and environmental protection products, gifts and bags, security and fire-fighting instruments and equipment, hardware building materials, non-ferrous metals and chemicals, and local specialties. The attention given to Chinese goods at the exhibition was generally higher than that of other countries.