On May 15th, Forum of Leaders of the Regions of India and China was held in Beijing. Mr. Wang Ning, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee, and vice governor of Sichuan Provincial People’s Government, attended the forum and delivered a speech on behalf of Sichuan and signed an agreement to establish sister province relationship between Karnataka and Sichuan with the witness of leaders from India and China.
   
　　The First Forum of Leaders of the Regions of India and China with the theme of “Smart City, Smart Livingwas co-organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and China International Friendship Cities Association. About 150 representatives from local government and business community of India and China attended the forum. In his speech, Mr. Wang Ning said that in recent years, under the background that the strategic relationship of India and China was developing, the exchanges between Sichuan and India were deepening and yielding fruits. Firstly, closer local exchanges. In 2013, Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, established sister city relationship with Banalore, capital of Karnataka. Now Sichuan is establishing sister province relationship with Karnataka. Secondly, widely practical trade and economic cooperation. In 2014, the volume of export and import of Sichuan to India amounted to 1.43 billion US dollars. A series of effective cooperation between Sichuan and India in fields such as trade and economic investment, electronic information, agricultural technology, cultural tourism and so on has been developed. Thirdly, frequent and deep cultural exchanges. In recent years, Closing Ceremony of “India Festival” and “Feeling China: Sichuan Week in India” and so on were held in Sichuan and India.

　　Mr. Wang Ning indicated that “One Belt and One Road” Strategy proposed by President Xi Jinping and “Outstanding India” Strategy proposed by Prime Minister Modi have fueled new energy for local contacts between China and India. Sichuan values highly the exchanges and cooperation between India and is willing to further strengthen the exchanges between local governments with the leadership of the Central Government of China and India, enhance cultural exchanges, and strive to provide more conveniences to personnel exchanges and economic trade.

　　On the same day, on behalf of Sichuan, Mr. Wang Ning signed an agreement to establish sister province relationship with Karnataka. Karnataka is located in the southwest of India. As one of the top 10 most populous provinces in India, Karnataka has brilliant traditional cultures and rich natural resources. Banalore, capital of Karnataka, is third largest city in India popular as “Indian Silicon Valley”. Banalore has established sister city relationship with Chengdu since 2013.