Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India Attend the Forum of Leaders of Regions of China and India

On May 15, 2015, the Forum of Leaders of the Regions of China and India was co-hosted by CPAFFC and CIFCA at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Premier Li Keqiang and the visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India attended and addressed the forum.

Premier Li Keqiang congratulated on the launching of the forum. He pointed out that over the 30-odd years of reform and opening up, China has made enormous achievements in economic and social development. An important reason is to fully mobilize the initiative of both central and local governments. As two developing countries with the largest population, both China and India have great development potential.

Developing exchanges and cooperation between the local governments of the two countries is conducive to mobilize the two peoples to build smart cities and realize smart living through smart work. The launching of the forum is of significant importance and is a good start for practical cooperation between Chinese and Indian localities.

Prime Minister Modi said that it is the first time that Indian government sign a MoU on regional exchanges and cooperation with another country. It is a significant event in our bilateral relations. India pays high attention to the forum and is willing to discuss and share cooperation opportunities with its Chinese counterparts. He hoped that the local governments of both countries will make joint efforts to bring the grand vision of developing the bilateral relations into reality.

About 180 representatives from 2 municipalities directly under the Central Government, 4 provinces and 4 cities of China and 2 states and 4 cities of India attended the Forum.