Harbin looks to India

Harbin in northwestern China has launched what it describes as China's first ever "Indian Street", the Press Trust of India reported. The agency quoted local Communist Party Secretary Du Yuxi as saying the street is intended to promote growing bilateral trade between the two countries. It already features Indian shops and an Indian-themed bar and an Indian restaurant will open there soon, PTI reported. Du said he hoped the street would attract Indian software companies to set up in the city to sell into the China market, and tap into Russian, South Korean and Japanese markets. According to Chinese customs, trade between China and India hit US$12.16bn in the first 11 months of 2004, up 82.7% on 2003.