Sonia Gandhi spoke at the Tsinghua University in Beijing, on 27th Morning. I was there to know what she had to say on the two nations and their levels of �Optimism and Cooperation�.

She had lots on the subject�showing the direction in which India is strengthening its relations with China:

Here�she goes:

�Prime Minister Wen Jiabao put it succinctly and if I may so,� with the great empirical precision that China is noted for, and I quote—”during the past 2200 years, for about 99% of the time we have devoted to friendly cooperation between our two countries.”�

�”l see optimism in both India and China today; optimism about the progress our countries can make, optimism about realizing our goals of development, optimism about the levels of cooperation we can reach, optimism�
For the rest: Click address-of-congress-president.doc

Sonia Gandhi, the President of Indian National Congress will be here in Beijing on October 25th, 07 to meet Chinese Communist Party chief Hu Jintao who has just been named head of the ruling party for a second term.

India�s External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee also willl be arriving tommorrow in Harbin, capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang province to attend the trilateral - India, China and Russia - foreign ministers’ meeting and they have lots on their agenda.

According to a Congress Secretary,

”The Chinese communist party has clarified that it appreciates the role of the Congress party in building up a good relationship between the two countries. Its invitation to the Congress president was an endorsement of it�.

We bring to you this Article from Rediff.com by Anil K Joseph, China Correspondent for Press Trust of India Beijing on what�s the entire visit about and the history of similar meetings before.

��.Both sides should expand the bilateral exchanges and cooperation, so as to benefit the people of the two countries as well as promoting peace and development in Asia and the world at large,” Hu said in his message to his Indian counterpart.

“I am willing to work hard together with you on enhancing the Sino-Indian strategic cooperative partnership, and to open this new chapter of friendship of good- neighbourliness and all-round cooperation between two countries in the new �

Read more HERE�

This was Ms. Gandhi�s second visit to China after 1996.

As promised earlier we bring to you a recap of The Event held in New Delhi �promoting Shenzhen � Hong Kong as gateways of investments in China�.

The Event organized by the Hong Kong and Shenzhen government and HKDC alongwith ASSOCHAM in New Delhi provided a platform for Indian corporates seeking to invest into the Chinese markets.

With approximately 300+ participants from the industry and a number of delegates - ASSOCHAM made remarkable efforts to make the event a huge success and there was lots to take back home.

Dezan Shira would in particular like to thank the following officals of ASSOCHAM:

1.�Mr. Ravi Mukharjee, ‘Development Consultant & Representative, in China, who provided us with all details of the event and help to coordinate it with the Chamber in India

2.�Mr. Anil K Agarwal, Chairman, International Affairs (he was� immediate past president of ASSOCHAM) and President of Cosmos Group

3.�Mr. MC Pandey, Senior Director International Division

4. Mr. D.S Rawat, Secretary General

Mr. Amit Aggarwal, Director, Cosmos International Ltd. is specially thanked for his continued support throughout the event.

China Briefing�and India Briefing’s new issues were�much liked by the participants. 2point6billion was known to many in Delhi with many more expected to become avid readers.

The event opened with welcome remarks from Mr. V.N. Dhoot, President, ASSOCHAM. This was followed by the key note speeches by Mr. Xu Zongheng, the Mayor of Shenzhen Municipal Government, Mr. Fred Lam, the Executive Director (ED) of HKDC, Mr. Sun Yuxi, Ambassador of China to India and finally Ms. Wang Suiming, Senior advisor , Shenzhen Municipal Government.�� (more…)

Theme:- promoting Shenzhen � Hong Kong as the gateway to investments in China.

Date & Time : Monday, the September 10th, 2007, at 3 PM

Venue: Hotel Le Meridian, New Delhi

This special business forum is being jointly hosted by the Shenzhen government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), organized by Shenzhen Bureau of Trade & Industry and co-organized by ASSOCHAM.

For more information read

The main areas of discussion will be:

-Hi-tech industry development in Shenzhen
-Hong Kong as a gateway for entering the China market

The event is expected to have about 50 delegates representing Shenzhen and Hong Kong Government, HKTDC, Industry and enterprises.

About 150 VIPs from the central government of India and top Indian companies are going to participate.

The event will begin with a welcome speech by the president of ASSOCHAM, Mr. V.N. Dhoot, key note speakers include:

1. Mr. Xu Zongheng, Mayor, Shenzhen Municipal Government of PR China

2. Mr. Fred Lam, Executive Director, Hong Kong Trade Development Council

Sheetal Guliani, heading up the India Desk of Dezan Shira & Associates - the China-India FDI advisory practice - will be representing the firm at the event. She can be contacted at sheetal.guliani at dezshira.com

A summary of the event will be posted here on 2point6billion.com directly after.

The much anticipated India Briefing magazine and website was launched�yesterday in Delhi by the consulting practice Dezan Shira & Associates. The firm, which has� published the well known sister publication China Briefing and a variety of books over the past eight years in China, has recently opened three India offices and is positioning itself as a Foreign Direct Investment boutique legal / tax practice specializing in China and India investments on behalf of international businesses, mainly in the manufacturing sector.

Chris Devonshire-Ellis, the firm’s founder and senior partner, commented �The launch of our new Indian business series demonstrates our commitment to the development of foreign direct investment into India and represents a significant investment by our practice in the future of India. Like China Briefing has for China, we hope that India Briefing will assist with educating the international business community concerning the legal and tax environment in India and will help facilitate trade into the country.�

India Briefing is a monthly magazine, and can be subscribed to on a complimentary basis. With an international readership, subscribers are sent the pdf full color link each month directly to their mailbox. Subscribers also receive access to all archived back issues as well as invitations to specific business events and book offers and discounts.

�We�ve found this works well� says Devonshire-Ellis. �It shows the global business community the strength of Dezan Shira & Associates as a practice, and demonstrates our professional legal and tax knowledge in a manner which is also educational. We�re not in a position of the global firms and Big Four and be fed business from corporate offices overseas, so we have to show our abilities via marketing and education. Both India Briefing & China Briefing are designed to do just that.�

India Briefing’s first issue deals with expatriate individual income tax in India and can be accessed here.

China Briefing can be accessed here

Dezan Shira & Associates can be accessed here

ASSOCHAM Event in New Delhi � Special Economic Zones

Friday, 6th July � Hotel Oberoi, New Delhi

Chinese & Indian SEZs Discussed

ASSOCHAM, the largest Indian Chamber of Commerce,�is holding a special forum concerning Special Economic Zones this coming Friday, at the Hotel Oberoi in New Delhi. Presided over by ASSOCHAM President V.N. Dhoot, who is also the Chairman of Videocon Group, the theme at this event is the development of both Indian and Chinese SEZs, with guest including the Executive Vice Mayor of Shenzhen, Liu Yingli, also speaking. Shenzhen city, in South China close to Hong Kong, is China�s largest SEZ. Still on the China theme, Chris Devonshire-Ellis, Senior Partner of Dezan Shira & Associates, the China-India FDI advisory practice will present on Chinese SEZs, Free Trade Zones, and compare these with India�s, in particular from the tax incentive perspective as well as from permitted and encouraged industries in both countries. Comments on China�s reduction in VAT rebates upon export will also be made. India�s Commerce Secretary, Mr. G.K. Pillai, will also address the forum, with other speakers including Mr. LB Singhal, Director General of the Export Promotion Council, Mr. Nahveen Raheja, Co-Chair, SEZ Council of India, Dr. K.K. Jajodia, Chairman, Assam Co; and many other experienced panelists and guests.

A summary of the event will be posted here on 2point6billion.com directly after the event.

To attend, please contact ASSOCHAM or visit their website.

�

�

(Above middle: Her Excellency, Indian Ambassador to China, Ms. Nirupama Rao; right: Dr. Anil K. Gupta, Ralph J. Tyser Professor of Strategy and Organization, Smith School of Business, University of Maryland; left: Mr. Christopher Devonshire-Ellis, Founding Partner, Dezan Shira & Associates).

Last night we had the wonderful opportunity to have present at our 2nd (montlhy) China-India Working Group Session:

Her Excellency, Ambassador Rao, who gave an honerable and inspirational opening remark on India and China’s blossoming bilateral relationship and parallel movements in growing their economies and seeking harmony in their aims to develop their societies.

Dr. Anil K. Gupta gave a lecture on ‘How to Get China and India Right’ and the importance of China AND India�(rather than China Vs. India).� Much of the points Dr. Gupta made in his speech can be read in�his co-authored piece for The Wall Street Journal�that appeared as a full-page article in the US, Asia, and Europe editions�on April 28th at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117735342493979298.html; you may also find interesting two video and audio interviews that WSJ conducted with Dr. Gupta at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117735342493979298.html�and at: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid572031310�and at: http://podcast.mktw.net/wsj/audio/20070426/pod-wsjgupta/pod-wsjgupta.mp3.

Mr. Devonshire-Ellis also spoke on Indian Special Economic Zones.� His presentation can be viewed at: http://www.2point6billion.com/India_SEZs_Introduction.pdf.

Special thanks to Ambassador Rao and Dr. Gupta for their though-provoking and inspirational talks.

Thanks also to the Capital Club for�hosting our 2nd China-India Working Group Session.� We will be holding our next session in July and will keep you informed once the subject and date is firmed-up.� We welcome any interested professionals to participate and/or join us in delivering a talk on an issue of business, economic and social importance relevant to these two vast countries.� Feel free to submit your suggestions, share an idea or express interest in participating in our 3rd session in July - send an email to: editor@2point6billion.com