On the afternoon of January 13, Chinese Embassy in India hosted a New Year tea-party for the Chinese companies in India. The tea-party was hosted by Liu Runing, Counselor of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy and addressed by Ambassador Sun Yuxi. Present at tea-party were representatives from 21 Chinese companies including Sinosteel, Huwei, ZTE, TCL, Baosteel, Dongfang Electric Corporation, China Eastern Airlines, Wuhan Research Institute of Posts and Telecommunications, Sany Heavy Industry.

Ambassador Sun briefed them on the development and existing problems of China-India relations last year. He pointed out that after Premier Wen Jiabao's successful visit to India, China and India established a strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity. The bilateral economic and trade relations had been further developed. China had become the largest source of India's imports and third largest destination of India's exports. The China-India trade volume in 2005 was expected to reach US$18 billion and reach the year 2008's goal of US $ 20 billion in 2006. Ambassador Sun spoke highly of the achievements made by the Chinese companies last year and encourage them to continue to make new contributions to the development of economy and trade of China. He said that the Embassy was home to the Chinese companies and would provide all kinds of services and create better environment and conditions for the Chinese companies to expand markets in India.

Ambassador Sun also pointed out that with the continuous improvement of political relations and fast development of economic and trade relations between China and India, more and more Chinese companies had set up companies or offices in India to develop their business. Until now, there were more than 40 Chinese companies in India. Most companies had expressed many times they were keen to strengthen the communications, exchange information and experiences and deepen relations in order to broaden their vision, develop new ideas, speed up the understanding of India's conditions and realize mutual coordination and common development. As per the companies' requests, Ambassador Sun suggested to set up a preparatory committee for the chamber of commerce of the Chinese companies in India that should consist of five companies i.e. Sinosteel, Huawei, ZTE, TCL and Sichuan Dongfang Electric Corporation so as to push forward the mutual communications and exchanges among the Chinese companies, coordinate the business actions of the Chinese companies, enhance the understanding and interactions between the Chinese companies and Indian business circles and enlarge the China-India economic and trade cooperation. Discussions were held on the establishment of the chamber of commerce of the Chinese companies in India. Representatives from Sinosteel, Huawei, TCL, ZTE, Jiangsu Overseas Group, Gezhouba Group took the floor one after another expressing their strong willingness to set up the chamber of commerce at an early date. They noted they will actively join the chamber of commerce and play a key role and make their efforts to hold the inaugurating meeting of the chamber of commerce of the Chinese companies in India in March this year.