Consulate General of India

Shanghai

India China (Wuxi) Business and Investment Forum & India Culture Week organized in Wuxi (Jiangsu)

   Consulate General of India, Shanghai and Wuxi Municipal People’s Government jointly organised an India China (Wuxi) Business and Investment Forum and the India Culture Week celebrations in Wuxi (Jiangsu Province) in the week beginning 27th March 2016. This template of cooperation with Wuxi was a unique initiative bringing together economic, commercial and cultural aspects aimed at transporting an all-encompassing Indian experience into Wuxi.

2. It may be noted that the province of Jiangsu has been a key business partner for India in the Eastern China region, and Wuxi (located in Jiangsu)being a renewable energy hub, has assumed an important dimension in the ongoing investments into India, as part of the Make in India initiative. There is also considerable interest amongst the people of Wuxi in knowing about Indian culture, films and art forms and given this context, Wuxi was selected as the first city for launching the India Culture week in eastern China region. 

 3.   Mr. Wang Quan, Mayor of Wuxi received the Indian delegation led by Consul General of India in Shanghai, who was accompanied by CEO’s of twenty four Indian companies. In his remarks, Mayor Wang Quan underscored the desire of Chinese companies to invest in India and stated that he would attempt to group together a consortium of companies from Wuxi in sectors like Renewable Energies, Solar Panels, Roads, Smart Cities, Infrastructure Development, Urban Transportation and Power Sector, who would be encouraged to establish units at an appropriate industrial park cluster in India.

India China (Wuxi) Business and Investment Forum

4. At the India China (Wuxi) Business and Investment Forum, which was held on 28th March nearly 200 Chinese companies with interest in Investing in India participated at the Event and listened to presentations made by representatives of Indian companies, who introduced each of the sector specific opportunities available in India under the Make in India programme. The Business Event was presided over by the Vice Mayor of Wuxi Mr. Wang Jinjian, who called on Chinese companies to take advantage of the investment opportunities in India. A series of B2B meetings were also organized which resulted in significant business leads for some of the key Indian companies.

MoU – CII & CCPIT Wuxi

5. Separately, during the event a Letter of Intent for institutionalizing cooperation between Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) was also signed. It is expected that as a result of the same, India – will be a participating at the Annual Renewable Energy Forum scheduled in November 2016 in Wuxi – as the focus partner country, and exchange of business delegations will be promoted between India and Wuxi.

India Culture Week

6. In addition, a week-long India Culture Week celebrations were inaugurated on March 27 with a cultural performance from a specially flown in Bhangra/Gidda troupe from India (sponsored by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), at the Jiangnan University Auditorium. The performance was attended by 1300 art lovers from Wuxi and Mayor of Wuxi along with the Vice Mayor watched through the entire performance and congratulated the Indian artists.

Indian Food Festival

7. In addition, an Indian Food Festival, showcasing the best Indian culinary experience, was also inaugurated at the Sheraton Hotel on 28th March by Vice Mayor of Wuxi, Mr. Wang Jinjian. The Food Festival put on display the best of Indian culinary experience to Wuxi citizens for a period of one week. A leading Indian chef partnered with Wuxi Sheraton Hotel to showcase this Indian culinary experience in Wuxi, where considerable interest towards savouring Indian food items is seen.

Indian Film Festival

8. Given the tremendous interest generated by Indian films amongst Chinese audiences, a week-long Indian Film Festival featuring five of India’s most successful recent movies -  ("PK" "Three Idiots" "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" "Taare Zameen Par" "Queen" – all in Chinese) was also launched in the evening of 28th March at the Jiangnan University, where nearly a thousand students and teachers turned up to view the screening of the first film - PK.  The film received tremendous adulation both from Wuxi leadership and local people, who watched the show. Each of the five films will be broadcast at the theater at Jiangnan University each evening until 2nd April 2016.

Exhibition of Indian Paintings - "India through Chinese Eyes"

9. An exhibition of Indian paintings (drawn by veteran Chinese artist Wang Zhijie) titled "India through Chinese Eyes", was also inaugurated at the prestigious Wuxi National Museum, which would be on display till 22nd April 2016. The exhibition showcases thirty three masterpieces drawn by Painter Wang, who had visited India in 2009, as a leader of 24-other artists from China as part of "Go to India" initiative. It may be noted that after his return from India, Artist Wang only painted Indian sceneries and characters and dedicated six years, painting thirty select pieces ‘impressions of India', depicting various aspects of life In India. The exhibition was jointly inaugurated by Wuxi Municipal leadership and Wuxi Museum authorities in partnership with the Consulate General of India in Shanghai.

Friends of India in Wuxi

10. During the visit, Chairperson of Wuxi CCPIT, Madam Xu Huijuan, who has been consistently promoting Indian arts in Wuxi, and was instrumental in organizing the International Day of Yoga celebrations in Wuxi was given the "Friend of India in China" appreciation jointly by Wuxi leadership and the Indian Consulate.  Madam Xu has been steadfastly promoting Indian investment opportunities to companies in Wuxi under her leadership at the CCPIT Wuxi. A similar appreciation was also accorded to Painter Luo Weimin (student of Artist Late Wang Zhijie) who curated the Indian exhibition and donated a piece on Indian Art to the Wuxi National Museum.

All in all, a truly Indian experience was transported into Wuxi, in the week beginning 27th March 2016. It is expected that the Business and Investment Forum coupled with the series of cultural events that have been organized in Wuxi (Jiangsu) will foster a better understanding of Indian arts and culture in Wuxi and further promote bilateral investments between India and the Eastern China Region.

Wuxi (Jiangsu)

29 March 2016