Visiting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Thursday praised the development of India's information technology (IT), saying China is proud of its neighbor's achievements.
Zhu, who visited India's IT giant Infosys Technologies Ltd. said that India had been widely recognized in the world as a very advanced nation in IT. "Your achievements have made us, your friendly neighbor, very proud," he said.
Noting that IT sector was growing very rapidly, he said China had all the advantages to develop the IT sector like India -- huge population and big market.
In a significant initiative, Zhu proposed that India and China work together and promote each other in the Information Technology sector and "make progress together."
Zhu, who instantly approved the Infosys plan to open a branch in Shanghai, listed advanced technology, modern management and tremendous achievements among others he saw at the company's headquarters.
Indian software exports, which totaled 6.2 billion U.S. dollars in the 2000-2001 fiscal year, are forecast by the country's National Association of Software and Service Companies to grow 30 percent in the 2001-2002 fiscal, but off a projection of 40 percent growth prior to the September 11 attacks on the United States.
Thursday evening, Karnataka Governor Rama Devi held a banquet in honor of Premier Zhu Rongji at the Governor House.
( January 18, 2002)
