Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi held fruitful discussions over a wide range of issues with Yu Zhengsheng, a senior member of the political bureau of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) central committee, on the fourth day of his visit to China on Friday.
The CM informed Zhengsheng about the state government's ambitious Kalpasar project and sought his assistance for availing the latest technologies that had been successfully implemented in Shanghai.
The two leaders discussed development of world-class infrastructure, construction of environment-friendly new cities, housing for the urban poor, among other issues, during the meeting, and also explored possibilities of partnership between Gujarat and Shanghai.
Earlier, the CM and the delegation accompanying him were given a warm welcome by Zhengsheng. The CPC leader also told Modi that he was impressed with the steps taken by Gujarat government for urban development and economic progress. Modi, in turn, praised the infrastructure development in and around Shanghai and informed the CPC leader about Gujarat's plans to model development of Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) on Shanghai. He also informed him about various other initiatives taken by the state government such as GIFT City, twin city concept, new port city, among others.
Pointing out that the state was the largest producer of castor, Modi said that there was scope for partnership between Gujarat and China for value addition of agro products. Modi invited urban managers from China to visit the state, and also invited them to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in 2013.
During the day, Modi and the delegation also visited the manufacturing plant of Shanghai General Motors. Modi said that leading automobile companies were setting up plants in Gujarat and the state would produce 50 lakh cars a year in the near future.
Late on Friday evening, Modi also met Liu Quibao, secretary of CPC's Sichuan Province, in Chengdu, and discussed possibilities of enhanced ties between Gujarat and Sichuan. During the meeting, Liu Quibao thanked people of Gujarat for the help during the disastrous earthquake in Sichuan three years back.
The two leaders discussed possibility of partnership between governments of Gujarat and Sichuan in the field of disaster management research and development. Appreciating Chinese banks for the low-interest loan offerings, Modi invited them
to Gujarat.
The Sichuan province CPC secretary hosted a dinner in the honour of the CM and the visiting delegation.
