China's Foreign Minister, Yang Jiechi, is on a three day visit to India. He has inaugurated the Chinese Consulate General in West Bengal's capital city, Kolkata. And the governor of West Bengal, as well as representatives of overseas Chinese in India, attended the ceremony.
Yang Jiechi is also expected to meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and hold talks with the Indian Foreign Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherjee.
At the opening ceremony of the Chinese Consulate General in Kolkata, Yang said that China and India are friendly neighbors. He added that the relationship between the two countries has maintained a comprehensive development and sound momentum.
He also said the establishment of the Chinese Consulate General in Kolkata is a good omen for friendship and cooperation between the two countries. And it shows China's sincerity towards building bilateral friendship.
The governor of West Bengal, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, said Kolkata is the hometown of the famous Indian writer, Tagore, who made outstanding contributions to the friendship between Indian and China.
Gandhi said he hopes the Consulate General will further strengthen the relationship. And he also said he would like the West Bengal government to continue developing economic ties with China.
Kolkata is India's third largest city. And it is east India's economic, cultural and transportation center. There are over 3,000 overseas Chinese living in Kolkata, making it the Indian city with the most overseas Chinese.
(CCTV September 9, 2008)
