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Opening Nathula Pass may boost Sino-Indian ties: US consul general

Opening of Nathula Pass in Sikkim for trade with China will be a very positive development, according to US Consul General Christopher J Sandrolini.

Participating in an interactive session in Calcutta yesterday, the consul general said the indication given to this effect by Calcutta Port Trust Chairman H P Roy and subsequent activities in the home ministry have given an impression that it would lead to opening up the area for trade with China.

''I personally feel that this combination has some important material and symbolic affect. It means that the two countries, leaving behind their differences, are trying to do business,'' he said.

''If that happens, it will be a very positive development,'' he added.

Sandrolini also said there was urgent need to speed up infrastructure development in eastern India, specially in the areas of port, road and power considering that the region will have an important role in trade development in the South-East Asia region.

He said presently the turnaround time of ships in India for loading and unloading is in terms of days, but in Singapore it is in terms of hours and that needs improvement.

He said India's eastern region will play an important role in the circle of possible trade linkages with China, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and even Sri Lanka with Calcutta as the centre.

This optimism was based on considerations that in terms of land area and population, eastern India ranks second and was on top in tea, jute, coal, iron ore and bauxite production.

In power-generation capacity, the region ranks fourth and in highways and seaports infrastructure its position is third, he said adding West Bengal can easily be one of the most prosperous areas in India.

UNI

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