India opens new consulate general in China's richest province

Guangzhou, June 4 : Visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today visited the site and unveiled the logo of India's new consulate general in Guangzhou, the capital of China's richest province Guangdong.

The new consulate general could prove to be a shot in the arm for the burgeoning trade ties between the two countries, which has already crossed 40 billion dollars mark last year and is all set to touch the target of whopping 60 billion dollars

Guangdon province has registered a stand-alone trade of six billion dollars from the total 38 billion dollars trade with India. Alone this province constitutes one third of total 634 billion dollars.

Seasoned diplomat Gautam bambawale is the first consulate general of the Guangdong.

While unveiling the logo Mukherjee said, "this consulate bolster tourism, trade, and people to people contact."

Mukherjee further emphasized that in international relations sometimes lack of understanding and misgivings are bound to happen.

Now there is also a direct flight between Delhi-Guangzhou, which is operated by the carrier 'Southern China' and the business community here has great interest in importing raw materials from India.

India already has a consulate general in Shanghai, the economic nerve centre of Mainland China. And there has been a consistent demand from business community of both the countries for liberalisation of the visas. By Naveen Kapoor

ANI