China upbeat about tourism sector growth

China has strong links with Puducherry; scholar Hu Hsu stayed in U.T. for 27 years, says Luo Zhaohui

For strong ties: Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy and Luo Zhaohui, Chinese Ambassador to India, and his wife counsellor Jiang Yili, at the symposium and exhibition in memory of scholar and artist Hu Hsu in Puducherry. At right, a section of the Chinese delegates.

Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui on Saturday said he discussed with Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy the ways to strengthen cooperation between China and Puducherry in the tourism sector.

Delivering the keynote address during the symposium on Chinese scholar and artist Hu Hsu, also known as Xu Fancheng, who lived in Puducherry for 27 years, he said: “There are at least one million Chinese tourists who travel abroad and at least 3,00,000 visit India and nearly 7,00,000 tourists from India travel to China. In the coming days, we could expect more tourists from China to come here,” he said.

In the education sector too, he said he looked forward to cooperation between the two countries. His visit to Pondicherry University was fruitful. He was hopeful of the student exchange programmes between Pondicherry University and colleges in China.

‘Huge potential’

“Puducherry has huge potential and we are expecting more Chinese companies to invest here,” he said.

Mr. Zhaohui said Hu Hsu was the first Chinese scholar to introduce Sri Aurobindo and The Mother to China. Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore and Sri Aurobindo were still remembered, he said and added: “The first two personalities were very famous and popular in China and it was Hu Hsu who introduced Sri Aurobindo to us.” Hu Hsu had translated Sanskrit texts and the Upanishads and was one of the major links between people of China and India.

Mr. Zhaohui said: “Puducherry has close links with France and welcomes people from all over the world with open arms. There are many Chinese living in Auroville. Puducherry has close links with China.” Asian countries paid more attention to nature and the western countries were inclined to materialism. Asian countries should unite against materialism.

‘Proud moment’

Mr. Narayanasamy said: “Chinese scholar and artist Hu Hsu painted at least 130 artworks in ashram. It is a proud moment for all of us to discuss how to improve the relationship between the two countries,” he said.

With this, Puducherry would be exposed to other parts of the world and tourism will flourish,” he said.

Mr. Zhaohui’s wife Jiang Yili was present.