At the invitation of India-China Economic and Cultural Council (ICEC), Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yan visited the State of Kerala from August 17 to 20.

During the visit, Ambassador Zhang attended the opening ceremony of ICEC Kerala branch and met the Chief Minister of Kerala Sri. V.S. Achuthanandan and Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Unit Secretary Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan. The Kerala CM and Mr. Vijayan congratulated the Chinese Ambassador for the smooth running of the Beijing Olympic Games and expressed their willingness for closer economic and trade ties with China.

The Chinese Ambassador also visited some factories run by the Kerala State Government and met the local press representatives.

Six hundred years ago, the great Chinese navigator Zheng He and his fleet visited Cochin and other ports of Kerala