From V Mohan Narayan and KJM Varma
Beijing

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang today launched an interactive forum for Indian states and Chinese provinces to establish economic cooperative partnership to develop their respective areas.

Addressing a meeting attended by among others Chief Ministers of Gujarat and Maharashtra as well as governors and mayors from different cities, Modi termed the launch a historic moment as provinces and states play important role in the development.

“In times to come, this will become one of the most important instruments for deepening our economic partnership and contact between our people. This is a historic moment in the relationship between India and China. Today, we are launching a new vehicle for advancing cooperation between our two countries,” he said addressing the meeting along Premier Li after their talks at the Great Hall of People.

“It comes from a serious conviction, born from my experience, that states have a vital role to play in the national development,” he said.

“I am asking my ministries to move conferences out of Delhi to state capitals and other cities, so that they do get the benefits that come?from hosting such events,” he said.

“More than anything else, we deal with the state governments in a spirit of partnership?and with sensitivity to their concerns. And, in doing so, we do not look at the symbol of the political party that is in power in the state. Which is why, when I invited state governments to participate in this event, I did considered the linkages of their states?with China, but also?broader political representation,” Modi said.

Modi said in India’s Constitution, state governments?have predominant role?in economic and social development.

He said while central government creates the macro-economic environment, “but, in the end, the state governments have an important role in their implementation”.

“As I saw in my own experience, state governments can take innumerable initiatives for the development of the states. That is the level of autonomy and responsibility that they enjoy under our Constitution,” he said.

“In the same national environment, states are performing at different levels.?For business investors, too, whether they are India nor foreign, their journey may begin in Delhi, but their success ultimately depends on state capitals,” he said.

Modi said many of the critical requirements for success ? infrastructure, land, utilities, skilled human resources and many approvals ? ultimately depend on the state governments.

“But, for me, the involvement of states in our national efforts not just because of their constitutional and legal responsibilities,” Modi said.

“I believe that the foundation for India’s development will not be the single pillar of the Central Government, but 30 pillars comprising the Central Government and all our States,” he said.

Noting that every nation needs strong international partnerships for its progress, Modi said the linkage has deepened in an integrated world.

“As international partnerships in trade, investments,? innovation, technology, tourism, education, skills and health grow, state governments have a stake in them and responsibility for their success.

“I have found, both through outbound and inbound state delegations, that state level interactions can be often more focused and productive,” he said, adding that these interactions make the state governments more sensitive and aware of the international dynamics and requirements.

“Therefore, I attach great significance to this forum,” he said.

“It is the first that India has with any country. And, it is appropriate that it has started with China. We are two of the world’s largest economies and among its fastest growing major economies. We have enormous economic synergies. We also face similar challenges. We have some similar experiences. We have both seen differences in the pace of development in different parts of our countries,” he said.

“Our economic relations are growing rapidly. During President Xi’s?visit last year, we set for ourselves an ambitious plan to take our economic relations to a new level,” he said, adding the two countries have agreed on China setting up two industrial parks in India ? in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Modi said the two sides have agreed on cooperation in the upgrading of India’s railway sector and he has invited Chinese companies to invest in India’s manufacturing sector.?

“President Xi?spoke of USD 20 billion of Chinese investments over the next five years.?Some of the business agreements will take shape in Shanghai tomorrow,” he said.

“I believe it will be much easier to translate our vision into reality, if provincial and state governments come into closer contacts. It will also serveour other interests ? especially promoting greater people-to-people contacts, which is at the heart of all relationships,” he said.

He said that between India and China, already there was sister-state relationships between Gujarat and Guangdong.

“We also have a number of sister-city relations. During this visit, we will see the launch of Karnataka Sichuan relations and four sister-city relationships,” he said.

“These are welcome developments.?We are truly taking our relationship outside our national capitals to state capitals and cities.?So, it is a great pleasure for me to join Premier Li in launching this forum. It will have our full support,” he added.

PTI