VIJAYAWADA: A 17-member delegation from Southwest China province Sichuan, led by its vice-governor Liu Jie, called on Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu here on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the delegation assured the provincial government's support to Andhra Pradesh in the sectors of infrastructure, energy, transportation, sustainable infrastructure, construction and tourism.
Both the leaders agreed upon taking speedy measures for promoting cooperation in different sectors.
The CM said there was strong cultural tie up between China and Andhra Pradesh and wanted to strengthen the bonding further.
Later, Liu Jie participated in the Andhra Pradesh - Sichuan Provincial Investment and Cooperation Exchange Conference, 2017.
Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu invited Sichuan Province to invest in the sectors of roads, ports, airports, industrial parks and LNG terminals in the state.
Asserting that Andhra Pradesh has an abundant natural, human and mineral resources, he said the government was acquiring a million acres of land in the state with special emphasis on industrial growth.
While 0.3 million acres of land have already been acquired, the process for acquiring the remaining 0.7 million acres of land was started, Yanamala said.
Terming Andhra Pradesh as the only State in India having a large land bank for industry, he said Shanghai and Sichuan Province could become Andhra Pradesh's infrastructure partner in developing the Coastal Economic Zones in the State.
"The State is building a strong and resilient airport and port infrastructure. We have six airports and are planning to develop four new airports and an aerotropolis, which will be India’s gateway to the pacific region.
We have India’s second-longest coastline of 974 km. The state has six operational ports and seven are proposed to be developed," he said.
"The strategic location of the state, long coastline, deep draft ports and manufacturing centres will make Andhra Pradesh the preferred engine of growth," he said, welcoming the Sichuan Province to explore investment opportunities in the State.
Stating that the state’s GDP growth rate has surpassed the country's GDP growth rate in 2015 and 2016, he said Andhra Pradesh is one of India’s fastest growing economies.
"The State is ranked top in World Bank’s ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and we are significantly working towards reducing the cost of doing business. We are investing $200 billion for making Andhra Pradesh a logistics hub,’ Yanamala said.
He also sought cooperation of the Chinese province in building Amaravati, the new capital city.