China wants a direct road link Saibal Dasgupta [ 14 Nov, 2006 0157hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
BEIJING: Chinese president Hu Jintao will press for a direct road link between India and China during his talks with leaders in New Delhi on November 21.
China wants the old Stillwell road connecting Arunachal Pradesh with Yunnan province in western China through Myanmar, rebuilt and reopened in order to give a new impetus to trade.
The Stillwell road, closed since World War II, will be part of the agenda at the ministerial-level talks, Chinese government sources said. India has not been very keen on reopening this road though it's developing another one, linking Manipur to Myanmar.
"Business will grow rapidly if this big corridor is opened up as it would reduce transportation time and cost significantly. Why should close neighbours trade through the long sea route when a land route is available?" said Sun
Xiao, deputy director of China Council for Promotion of International Trade. Construction of the road on the Chinese side has already begun, he said. Beijing has pinned hopes on business with India to develop backward areas in western China, including the Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet provinces.
Of the 1,700-km stretch, just 60 km is in India, though it forms a crucial business link. India, on the other hand, is more keen on the road connecting Tamu in Manipur and Kalemyo in Mayanmar. Sources said India is reluctant to have a link through Arunachal Pradesh because of the sensitive nature of the border.