Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to visit China in June this year in what she said was a response to repeated invitations from the neighbouring country in the past.
The chief minister said that she would visit the country because it wanted to invest. “Our party has received invitation from the Chinese Communist Party to visit that country. They have invited me,” Ms Banerjee told mediapersons at the NSC Bose International Airport here on her return from New Delhi.
Chinese delegations have made a number of visits to West Bengal in the recent times and had extended several invitations to the chief minister to visit their country. Ms Banerjee had visited Italy and Germany in September last year.
At the airport on Tuesday, Ms Banerjee told reporters, “They (China) have requested me many times (to visit the country). Perhaps we may go there in June for four-five days. Everything has not yet been finalised. We are talking to them regarding investment in agro sector and manufacturing sector. They want to invest. That is why I want to visit,” the chief minister said.
Sources in the state secretariat said the chief minister has given her consent regarding the visit for the first week of June. Although the details of the tour is yet to be finalised, the chief minister is likely to visit two provinces — Jiangsu and Yunan.
Finance and industry minister Amit Mitra and a host of industrialists from West Bengal are likely to accompany her to the communist country.
In November last year, Chinese vice president Li Yuanchao had met Ms Banerjee and requested her to visit China.
Mr Yuanchao not only promised the state government loans from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank but Chinese automobile major Zhongtong decided to set up an assembling unit at the airport city in Burdwan’s Andal. The company has proposed to invest Rs 250 crore in the first phase and scale it up to Rs 1,500 crore. Zhongtong plans to manufacture buses in Andal later.
In February, Consul-General of China in Kolkata Ma Zhanwu again invited her to visit two provinces. Experts are of opinion that Bengal’s trade initiative with China might play a dual role of boosting the state’s economy and improve the financial health of the country.
Ms Banerjee also has invitation from US-India business council this year.
