Consulate General of India in Guangzhou To Open This Year

Source: english.gz.gov.cn

According to China's ambassador to India Sun Yuxi, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukerjee co-confirmed on February 13, 2007 that the Consulate General of China in Calcutta and the Consulate General of India in Guangzhou would both be completed and put into service this year.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing(L),  Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukerjee(C) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov greet according to Indian Custom [Guangzhou Daily]

It was one of the achievements of Chairman Hu Jintao's visit to India in November, 2006 for China and India to add a consulate general to one another. According to Ambassador Sun Yuxi, the Consulate General of India in Guangzhou is the second consulate set up by India, after Shanghai.

Ambassador Sun said the two countries would commit themselves to simplifying the visa application procedures, mutually set up tourism offices in Shanghai and New Delhi, and increase the flights in the 2007 "Sino-India Tourism Friendship Year". The two countries' airline companies are likely to open direct flights from Guangzhou to Calcutta this year.

On the afternoon of February 14, the "Sino-India Tourism Friendship Year" was officially inaugurated in New Delhi, the capital city of India. China's visiting Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Indian Foreign Minister Mukerjee attended the inauguration ceremony. At the ceremony, a Chinese website named "Incredible India" was also brought on-line, which mainly introduces Indian tour destinations and provides tourist information services. Mrs. Ambika Soni, Indian Minister of Culture & Tourism revealed that India would promote special trains of "Buddhism Travel" this year.

(Translated by Guangzhou Association of Foreign Affairs Translators)

Editor: Jessie Hwang