Nine-member Chinese delegation meet CM

Hyderabad, June 22 (UNI) A nine-member Chinese delegation of the Hubei People's Political Consulative Committee led by its Chairman, Mr Wang Shengtie called on the Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy here today.

The Hubei Provincial government delegation arrived in the back drop of the year 2006, which has been declared as Indo-China friendship year.

Interacting with the Chief Minister Mr Wang said he was very impressed with the hospitality and friendship of the people here during his two-day visit to the state. He said the delegation had visited the state to study methods especially in the fields of free education and free healthcare and agriculture-related issues.

They have already visited Osmania Hospital and Hyderabad Public School today and are scheduled to visit Nuziveedu seed industry at Kompalli, Hyderabad tomorrow.

Mr Wang wondered how the government here was able to provide free medicare and education to lakh of people and control the rush in the hospitals at the same time. ''We are impressed in your policy of free healthcare and education in the state and eager to learn from your experiences and achievements in these'', Mr Wang said. He noted that Andhra Pradesh and Hubei province have similarities in many aspects, including the number of population, education and agricultural sectors.

He invited Mr Reddy to visit Hubei province to further strengthen the relationship.

Welcoming the delegation, Dr Reddy said with their visit to the historic city and with the present initiatives of the UPA government at the Centre, the Indo-Chinese relations would get strengthened further.

On free healthcare, the Chief Minister said the government has set up hospitals to cater to the needs of all needy and poor. ''We are also providing better infrastructure, more doctors, paramedical staff and teachers in schools in order to provide medicine and education to the poor. The government is taking every step to improve literacy rate in the state, he said.

The Chief Minister also explained the progress being made in IT and Industrial sectors in the state and assured to work for mutual co-operation in the fields of health, education and agriculture sectors.

UNI BR KD KN2313