New Delhi, Nov 1 (IANS) Signaling an emerging Track II process in India-China relations, Nur Bekri, governor of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Thursday begins a four-day visit aimed at promoting greater trade and investment between the two countries.
Bekri has been invited by the Indian government under the India-China Distinguished Visitors’ Programme.
In New Delhi, Bekri will address a business conclave organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). He is expected to pitch for greater Indian investment in Xinjiang.
He will meet senior officials of the external affairs ministry, including Guatam Bambawale, joint secretary in charge of East Asia.
Accompanied by a business delegation from his province, Bekri will also go to Mumbai and Agra.
The visit by regional leaders has become a trend of sorts in India-China relations and is aimed at promoting greater mutual understanding of each other’s trajectory of socio-economic development.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar visited China in June a and explored cooperation in the field of infrastructure, agriculture and rural development.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is expected to go to China later this year to attract Chinese investment in his state.
Bekri’s visit comes amid differences over a host of issues, including China’s objection to India’s petroleum deals with Vietnam in the Beijing-claimed South China Sea and shows the resolve of the two Asian powers to keep their relations on an even keel.
Bilateral trade is at $60 billion, with both sides trying to scaling it up to $100 billion in the next few years.
