Indian, Chinese firms sign deals worth $22 billion
SHANGHAI, May 16 (AFP) -Indian and Chinese firms signed 21 agreements officials said were worth a total of more than $22 billion in Shanghai today, witnessed by visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Let us work together in mutual interests," Modi told executives from 200 Chinese and Indian companies at the signing ceremony. "Now India is ready for business." The nationalist leader was on the final day of a threeday trip to his fellow Asian giant, as the two jockey for regional influence and India's trade deficit with China balloons.
Despite his hardline reputation Modi has moved to engage with Beijing since his election last year, and he was looking for an economic boost from the visit, seeking to deliver on election promises for foreign investment.
China is India's biggest trading partner with two-way commerce totalling $71 billion in 2014. But India's trade deficit with China has soared from just $1 billion in 2001-02 to more than $38 billion last year, Indian figures show.
Indian embassy trade counsellor Namgya Khanpa said the agreements signed at the Shanghai event were "worth over $22 billion", with another five exchanged earlier.
A list circulated by Indian officials
CHINA'S DEFENCE OF SOVEREIGNTY 'UNSHAKEABLE':
FOREIGN MINISTER
showed many of the contracts were for Chinese banks to finance Indian firms, and also included deals in the telecom, steel, solar energy and film sectors.
The two countries have followed significantly different economic paths in recent decades, with China rising to become the world's second-largest economy while India has lagged behind, although Modi's election raised hopes for reform among investors.
"I strongly believe that this century belongs to Asia," he told a business forum ahead of the signing, as he sought to stress historical links between the two countries.
He welcomed Chinese investment in sectors including housing, renewable energy, high-speed rail, metro, ports and airports, adding that India was eager to draw on China's expertise in mass manufacturing.
"We are keen to develop areas in which China is strong," he said. "We need your involvement."