The economic-cultural relationship between India and China is so robust that nothing and no one can break them apart, said the Chinese Consul General in Mumbai Kong Xianhua in his recent remark on Friday. The statement came while Kong was addressing a gathering on the occasion of the Chinese New Year Reception and Chinese Cultural Festival in Mumbai.
2023 marked a year of achievements and harvest for both countries, Kong said, adding, "It is the extensive cooperation between our people that makes it happen.”
The China-India trade volume surpassed the margin of 136.2 billion dollars, last year, Kong asserted.
Over 1.8 lakh visas were issued the previous year by the Chinese Embassy and its Consulates-General in India, showing a new high number of Indian visitors to Beijing after the COVID pandemic, said Kong.
One of the biggest news in Mumbai these days is that the Coastal Road is set to open this month, he said.
"It is worth noting that the tunnel under Malabar Hill (in south Mumbai), the hardest part of the project, was built with a Chinese tunnel boring machine by the efforts of both Chinese and Indian engineers," he said.
The envoy also said that they had held a promotional event for the China International Import Exhibition, calling on more Indian companies to look at the Chinese market, the second largest in the world, he said.
"We held the Chinese Proficiency Competition, for the first time in Mumbai, inspiring Indian youngsters to learn Chinese. These events gave me a very deep impression that the economic and cultural connections between our people are so strong that nothing and nobody could push us apart," he said.
Kong said India made significant achievements in various aspects in 2023, including a 7.3 per cent economic growth rate, a wonderful performance in the Asian Games held in China's Hangzhou, and the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the moon.
In 2023, despite the difficulties, Chinese companies achieved pretty good performance and actively participated in social welfare undertakings, he said.
The envoy also said that Yapp India, a Chinese company in Pune, completed the infrastructure upgrade project in S.M.C No.1 High School in Solapur, the hometown of Dr Dwarakanath Shantaram Kotnis who served on the frontlines as a physician during the Sino-Japanese war.
Kong attended the inauguration ceremony of the project last December. He said the thunderous applause from the kids made him deeply feel their heartfelt gratitude and true friendship between Chinese and Indian people.
Kong also said he was glad to know that Sany, Haier, and many other Chinese companies also engage in social welfare undertakings and contribute to the development of local society.
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