Consulate General of India in Shanghai along with Yiwu Municipal People’s Government organized a week-long celebration of Indian business, culture and arts at leading public venues in Yiwu during the week beginning 6 May 2017. 

India – Guest of Honour Country – at Yiwu Annual Imported Commodities Fair 

The India Week celebrations in Yiwu coincided with the participation of a 30 plus member Indian companies delegation under the umbrella of Export Promotion Council of Handicrafts (EPCH) – which organized a large scale Indian Pavilion at the Yiwu Annual Imported Commodities Fair, which commenced in Yiwu at the Yiwu International Expo Center on 6 May forenoon. 

The Indian participation showcased under the Indian Pavilion included works of Indian embroidery, Madhubani paintings, fine wood carvings/inlay work from Rajasthan, and other distinct forms of art work from Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam and Gujarat. The opening ceremony of the India Week celebrations coincided with the opening of the Indian Pavilion in Yiwu on 6^th May and featured the entire top leadership of Yiwu Government including Yiwu Vice Mayor Shi Wenzhen. 

It may be noted that Yiwu – located in Zhejiang – is the world’s largest small commodities trading hub and the Annual Imported Commodities Fair is China’s largest such exhibit hosted at Yiwu focusing on imported commodities.  Yiwu also shares a special relationship with India, given that nearly 2200 Indian nationals (mostly traders) are long term residents in Yiwu city and constitute the largest foreign community in this small commodity metropolis in Eastern China. India was also Yiwu’s largest bilateral trading partner in 2016. 

It may also be noted that Party Secretary of Yiwu Mr. Sheng Qiuping led a high level delegation to India last week from 3-6 May and visited Mumbai and Delhi, with a specific objective of promoting bilateral trade with small and medium enterprises from India. During his visit, an Yiwu Promotion Event was also organized by CII in New Delhi on 5^th May, where a large number of Indian SME’s and members from small commodity trading community were present. Party Secretary also interacted with the Reliance Group and TATA Retail during the Mumbai leg of the visit. 

Opening Ceremony – with Indian traditional dance performance 

A special cultural dance performance by Indian artists led by Ms. Namrata Dhawan, along with Ms. Salome and other Indian artists was organized to mark the opening of the India Week. These dance performances featured performances of Odissi titled “Mangalacharan”, Rajasthani Kalbeliya titled “Halleriya” and a special act titled “Dasavtara” – chronicling the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. 

Photo Exhibition showcasing Buddhism, Yoga and Life of Mahatma Gandhi on display at Yiwu International Expo Center 

Consulate General of India in Shanghai along with Yiwu Government jointly, also organized a photo exhibition at Yiwu International Expo Center, which was jointly inaugurated by Vice Mayor of Yiwu Shi Wenzhen and Consul General in the forenoon of 6^th May. A large number of art lovers from Yiwu including participants at the Annual Commodities Fair turned up to view the photo exhibition on Buddhism comprising more than ninety photographs of various prominent Buddhist sites/monasteries from across India. The exhibition offers a glimpse of Buddhism in its birth place – India and portrays the life of Buddha, his journey to enlightenment, and spread of Buddhism as religion, philosophy and way of life. In addition, two additional sections of photo exhibits on International Day of Yoga and Life of Mahatma Gandhi were also put on display. The set of pictures were sent by the External Publicity Division of the Ministry of External Affairs of Government of India. All these three sets showcasing various facets of Indian history and culture will be on display until 09 May in Yiwu. 

Indian Food Festival launched at Yindu Hotel in Yiwu 

The Indian Food Festival was organized as part of the India Week celebrations, and jointly inaugurated by Vice Mayor Madam Luo Xiaojun along with Consul General Prakash Gupta. A large number of Indian delicacies were put on the main buffet of the Yindu Hotel for Yiwu Food lovers by two Indian chefs, who had been deployed in Yiwu for the India Week celebrations. It is expected that the Indian Food Section will be on display at the Yindu Hotel in Yiwu until 09 May 2017, and will offer some of the best selection of Indian food to Yiwu residents.  

Indian Film Festival inaugurated at Yiwu Industrial and Commerce College– inaugural screening has more than 500 students

The Indian Film Festival was jointly inaugurated by Vice Mayor of Yiwu, Madam Luo Xiaojun along with Consul General Prakash Gupta in the evening of 6^th May. Given the tremendous interest generated by Indian films amongst Chinese audiences, the week-long Indian Film Festival will showcase five of India’s most successful recent movies – “PK” “Three Idiots” “English Vinglish” “Taare Zameen Par” and “Queen”– all with Chinese subtitles/sound-  and would be available for viewing as part of the Indian Film Festival at Yiwu Industrial and Commerce College each evening until 10 May 2017. The opening screening showcased “Three Idiots” to a packed audience of nearly 500 plus students, where Vice Mayor Madam Luo Xiaojun underscored the importance of films as playing a key role in better appreciation of Indian culture in Chinese minds.   

All these events showcasing various facets of India received very enthusiastic response from Yiwu audiences as large number of local people turned up to participate in the India Week celebrations.

Yiwu (Zhejiang),

8 May 2017