Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu woos Chinese investors

Beijing, April 14: Seeking investments to rebuild Andhra Pradesh after the separation of Telangana, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is here to woo Chinese investors to hasten the process of manufacturing and infrastructure building in the state.

Naidu, who arrived here on April 12, has held over two dozen meetings with senior Chinese officials, heads of top companies and signed even some non-binding MoUs to rope in Chinese companies to invest heavily in the new state which desperately needed foreign investments.

Exuding confidence to build the new state which is struggling for funds, Naidu in his interaction with the Indian media recalled how he built Hyderabad city which made the newly carved out Telengana state a surplus revenue province whereas Andhra Pradesh is left high and high dry for funds.

After the unscientific division, Andhra Pradesh do not have capital, nor investment and proper revenue, he said while expressing confidence that Centre will provide necessary funds promised during the division. [Naidu wants to promote Andhra Pradesh as medical hub]

Making a strong pitch for Chinese investments in his state, Naidu met Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang and other ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) officials who openly spoke about difficulties in investing in India.

"Even there are some reservations in China. We are not clearing their proposals at speed or visas for tourists' visas are not being cleared. They have expressed open reservation. I said I will take it up with government of India and with the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi," he said hoping that things will be sorted out before Modi's visit here next month.

But at the same time Chinese were receptive as Andhra's proposed capital Amaravathi's linkages with Buddhism and its famous Buddhist Monk Nagarjuna, who travelled to foreign lands like Japan and China to spread Buddhism, he said.

PTI