Distinguished Joint Secretary Mr. Dinesh Sharma ,

Distinguished Chairman of Council Mr. Zhang Zhigang,

Dear friends from medias,

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends,

Good afternoon!

I'm very pleased to attend today's Promoting Conference of the 103rd session of China Import and Export Fair. First of all, on behalf of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in India and in name of myself, I would like to express a warm congratulation to successful holding of today's conference.

China and India border upon mountains and rivers geographically and share long-standing friendly intercourse historically. During Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to India in 2005, China and India established the Strategic Cooperative Partnership, indicating that China-India good neighbourhood and friendly relations ushered in a new stage of development. When Chinese President Hu Jintao visited India in November 2006, the two countries signed a joint declaration, which mainly focused on "Ten-Pronged Strategy" for deepening two sides strategic cooperative partnership. Undoubtedly, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to China this January further set up a new milestone of both sides' friendly partnership. In recent years, under the joint efforts of both sides, bilateral economic and trade cooperation has entered a unprecedented development period with an annual growth of more than 30%. According to the statistics of China's Customs, bilateral trade volume totaled USD$38.65 billion in 2007, up by 55.5% than previous year. According to the stastistics of Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India, China has become India's largest trade partner during the first 6 months in 2007-2008 fiscal year. When Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited China this January, two State leaders jointly upwards revised the grand plan of bilateral trade volume in 2010 from previous USD$40 billion to USD$60 billion, prefiguring that China-India economic and trade cooperation will usher into a new track of development.

China and India share prominent complementarities in bilateral trade cooperation. According to the statistics of China's Customs, among bilateral trade of recent two years, the principal import commodities of China from India are mineral products, cotton, organic chemicals, copper and articles thereof, iron and steel, gems and jewellery and precious metals, etc. while the principal export commodities of China to India are machinery and electric products, organic chemicals, iron and steel and articles thereof, plastics and articles thereof, etc. Moreover, in the wake of the further development of bilateral trade cooperation, the existing complementarties and synergies will become much more outstanding, indicating a huge potential for bilateral trade cooperation. Besides, in order to reduce the trade deficit against India, Chinese government had specially held "South Asian Countries Commodity Trade Fair" in Beijing at the end of 2007, aiming at building up an effective platform of commodities for South Asian countries including India to exploit Chinese Market. Presently, Chinese side is also making its endeavor to positively explore practical measures for further enlargement of import from India so as to propel the development of bilateral trade cooperation to a continuous and healthy level.

China Import and Export Fair, also renowned as the Canton Fair and the

former China Export Commodity Fair, has been successfully held for 102 sessions since its inauguration in 1957. The Canton Fair, as a comprehensive international exhibitions and one of the most famous exhibitions in the world, has won its reputation in China with longest history, highest level, biggest size, most variety of commodity, most visitors and exhibitors and best contracted results. From its 101st session, the Canton Fair was renamed from previous China Export Fair into China Import and Export Fair and began to effect dual functions of promoting export and enlarging import by launching the special Import Pavilions for the first time in history. Today, the Canton Fair not only serves the function of presenting Chinese export commodities to vast purchasers continuously but also provides an exceptional and international presenting platform of commodities for all exhibitors which include Indian exhibitors.

My dear friends! The 103rd session of China Canton Fair will be held in Guang Zhou during April 15 to 30, 2008. With a more opening-up stance, the 103rd session will attract more foreign visitors and exhibitors to promote China's market. Therefore, on behalf of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in India, I would like to extend my warmest invitation to all friends present here as well as other Indian friends in business circles to attend this session. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in India will provide any possible facilities for this Fair. I believe that, under the mutual support and efforts of all of us, the 103rd China Canton Fair will obtain much more significant achievements.

Last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity again to wish the highest success of this Promotion conference as well as the 103rd China Import and Export Fair.

Thank you.