Trade calls for new China-India leisure link

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

 ◆ Trade calls for new China-India leisure link

NEW DELHI - A Chinese trade mission to Kolkata, East India, has called for leisure charter flights between Kunming and Kolkata.

Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry seminar, Yunnan Development Research Centre director He Xuan said the civil aviation departments of both countries should begin negotiations to open the Kunming-Kolkata air route.

The historic "South Silk Road", connecting India and China passes through Yunnan. Stressing the need to re-start the famous road route, He Xuan said China was already embarking on a project to reconstruct the highway between Kunming and Myanmar border under a joint French and ADB funded programme, to be completed by 2007.

Trade between Yunnan and India in 2002 was worth US$60 million.