China seeks more cultural exchanges with Bengal; will send tourists to Durga Puja
In a bid to boost cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and the state of West Bengal, the Chinese consulate in Kolkata is planning to attract more tourists from the Communist nation to the city during the Durga Puja religious festival this year.
Zha Liyou, the Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Kolkata, said the consulate is holding talks with the local Puja organisers and members of the West Bengal government to arrange guided tours for Chinese tourists to different puja pandals (marquees).
"I have talked to the officials of the West Bengal government. They said they welcome the Chinese tourists to Bengal during the Durga Puja. Many of the Puja organisers also want more Chinese tourists to visit their puja as well. So we are trying to work that out. It is not very easy. When foreign delegations come, we have to work closely with the local organisations to arrange tours for them," Zha said.
"Durga Puja is certainly one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the country and it has massive significance in West Bengal. The Chinese consulate looks at all possible opportunities to be a part of the local community. We want to be part of the celebrations," he said.
During the Durga Puja last year, a citybased Puja committee collaborated with the Chinese consulate to create a 'pandal' based on Chinese architecture and flew in 25 Chinese artisans to perform at its premises.
The envoy said business ties between West Bengal and China are "gradually strengthening," as successful visits by Chinese business delegations have created a positive understanding of the business environment and opportunities available in West Bengal.
"We had organised a very high-level delegation from the Yunnan province to visit the Bengal Global Business Summit this year. The delegation was very happy as they had a better understanding of the business environment in West Bengal. So may be in the coming years the Yunnan province's businessmen will take more proactive and effective measures to develop the business relations with the state," he noted.
"A senior business delegation from West Bengal also visited China in June this year. The business connection between West Bengal and China is gradually strengthening," Zha said.
Zha said it is always important that such initiatives are taken to improve the people to people contact between the two nations. A women's delegation from Bengal was on a week-long visit to China from July 20July 27, where it visited places like Kunming’s Loudong residential subdistrict, Yunnan Minzu University and interacted with many women leaders and entrepreneurs there.
The envoy said business ties between West Bengal and China are "gradually strengthening," as successful visits by Chinese business delegations have created a positive understanding of the business environment and opportunities available in West Bengal