After prolonged talks with China & an unfavourable outcome, India has reconciled
to set up its Consulate in Chengdu. China ignored India’s proposal to
re-establish its Consulate in provincial capital of Tibet Lhasa. The
Consulate in Lhasa was closed during the 1962 war. Nepal is the only country to
have a Consulate in Lhasa.
Chengdu has geographical proximity to Tibet. It is the capital of the well
industrialised Chinese province of Sichuan. Several other countries including the United States have Consulates in Chengdu.
In view of the recent improvement of relations and growing trade and investments, this move is expected to further firm up diplomatic ties and expand trade between the two countries.
In view of the recent improvement of relations and growing trade and investments, this move is expected to further firm up diplomatic ties and expand trade between the two countries.
Besides the Embassy in Beijing, this will be fourth Indian Consulate in China. India currently has three other Consulates in China, viz., in Shanghai
and Guangzhou and in Hong Kong, which is termed as a Special Administrative
Region.
India on its end has permitted China to open its third Consulate in India in
Chennai. For China, Chennai will mark a new opening in South India where it is
looking to step up investments. China's other Consul General missions are in Mumbai and Kolkata apart from its
Embassy in New Delhi.
The official statement in this regard this is likely to be made during Prime
Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China in May.
China has agreed to open a new land route for Indian pilgrims to travel to
Kailash Mansarovar through Nathu La Pass. However it remains reluctant to allow
re-establishment of the Indian Consulate in Lhasa, perhaps due to its political
sensitivities in Tibet.
China is to undertake a feasibility study to build a high speed railway
connecting Chennai and New Delhi.
