"The Chinese delegation has shown a very positive attitude towards furtherstrengthening the business ties between the two countries," CII presidentArun Bharat Ram told The Financial Express just after the meeting. Mr BharatRam was leading the business delegation. As a positive outcome of thedialogue, the apex industry association will take a business delegationheaded by Mr Bharat Ram to China in April. Confirming this, Mr Bharat Ramsaid: "The delegation will also comprise some members of parliament." Thenames of the delegates is yet to be finalised.

The purpose of the visit is to bring together the business communities ofthe two nations, Mr Bharat Ram said adding that there is a great businesspotential between the two countries so far as infrastructure sector isconcerned. The issue of the influx of cheap Chinese goods into the Indianmarket and anti-dumping investigations by the Indian government on severalproducts, however, did not come up during the discussion, he said. Statingthat the dilogue with the Chinese leader was encouraging, Mr Bharat Ramsaid, "This was a basic interaction with one of the top Chinese leaders. Wehave conveyed him that trade between India and China can grow substantiallyspecially in information technology, pharma and tourism sectors."

The 15-member Chinese delegation was represented by Chinese ambassador toIndia Zhou Gang and the commercial advisor of Mr Peng. The meeting was heldin hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi. The meeting was not on Mr Peng's agenda whenhe arrived in India.

Speaking at the meeting, Ranbaxy Laboratories' managing director and chiefexecutive officer (CEO) DS Brar said that Ranbaxy has an experience of fiveyears in China and the company was willing to invest more in the country. MrBarar also said that his company would like to introduce some of the Chinesemedicines to India.

The Chinese leader, who is primarily on a political visit, met only the CIIbusiness delegation from the Indian industry according to CII.

CII team for China
While the CII delegation is meeting the Chinese leader Li Peng in Delhi, another 5-member delegation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) headed CII senior-director Gurpal Singh is leaving for China on Saturday night. “The delegation will study the relative strength of the Chinese SMEs to strengthen its small and medium-scale industries to face competition, Mr Singh told The Financial Express. The delegation has been invited to visit China to build stronger business relationship between the two countries, he said.