"The Chinese delegation has shown a very positive attitude towards further strengthening the business ties between the two countries," CII president Arun Bharat Ram told The Financial Express just after the meeting. Mr Bharat Ram was leading the business delegation. As a positive outcome of the dialogue, the apex industry association will take a business delegation headed by Mr Bharat Ram to China in April. Confirming this, Mr Bharat Ram said: "The delegation will also comprise some members of parliament." The names of the delegates is yet to be finalised.

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

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

Speaking at the meeting, Ranbaxy Laboratories' managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) DS Brar said that Ranbaxy has an experience of five years in China and the company was willing to invest more in the country. Mr Barar also said that his company would like to introduce some of the Chinese medicines to India.

The Chinese leader, who is primarily on a political visit, met only the CII business 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.