Ahmedabad

Consul General of India in Guangzhou(China) Mr. Y.K. Sailas Thangal while speaking at China(Guangdong) – India(Gujarat) Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference 2015 at Hyatt hotel in Ahmedabad today strongly pitched for need to start a direct flight between Indian state of Gujarat and its sister province Guangdong in China.

“I would like a suggest from all the people sitting here that we must start a direct light between Guangdong and Ahmedabad,” he said attracting applause from packed hall in hotel.

“Why am I saying this? If you are brother and sister and you don’t get to see each other, if you can’t recognize each other when pass by then you don’t have a blood relation. If you don’t have direct contact, then you don’t have blood relation. If you are sister provinces and if Guangdong and Gujarat are sisters, why should you go through Delhi and Mumbai or Beijing and Hong Kong to visit sister’s house? Why not direct?” he further said attracting applause again.

“It’s my humble suggestion and I as a Consul General in Guangdong will do all that is in my hand to facilitate the contacts between Gujarat and China businessmen and officials,” he said.

Thangal said, “let me remind you, when plane takes off from runway, it doesn’t take off with the wind. It always takes off against the wind. Therefore potential between Gujarat and Guangdong provinces is just like a Dreamliner, parked on the runway, and all of you sitting here can play a role of pilot.”

Thangal pointed out that while Gujarat is one of the powerhouses of India, Guangdong contributes 25% to China’s external trade(figure: 2014). Guangdong in fact is main engine of China’s economy.

He said India and China have not just 100-200 ears old relations but many many years long relations. Both the nations hve common culture, geography and spiritual link. The relations are further consolidated in recent year with visits at highest level. He said Epicenter of global economic power is fast shifting to Asia, and in that context China and India have not only opportunity but also have responsibility to play their role in this regard.

In response to YK Sailas Thangal’s speech, Guangdong Governor Mr Zhu Xiaodan also mentioned the direct flight potential between Ahmedabad and Guangzhou in his address and said such initiative would give boost to tourism in connection with the fact that Guangdong has highest number of outbound tourists in China. He said India is highly attractive to Guangdong tourists.

– DeshGujarat