Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang.
Seeking investments to rebuild Andhra Pradesh after the separation of Telangana, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is in Beijing to woo Chinese investors to hasten the process of manufacturing and infrastructure building in the state.
Mr Naidu, who arrived in Beijing on April 12, has held over two dozen meetings with senior Chinese officials, heads of top companies and signed even some non-binding MoUs to rope in Chinese companies to invest heavily in the new state which desperately needed foreign investments.
Exuding confidence to build the new state which is struggling for funds, Mr Naidu in his interaction with the Indian media in Beijing recalled how he built Hyderabad city which made the newly carved out Telengana state a surplus revenue province whereas Andhra Pradesh is left high and high dry for funds.
After the unscientific division, Andhra Pradesh do not have capital, nor investment and proper revenue, he said while expressing confidence that centre will provide necessary funds promised during the division.
Making a strong pitch for Chinese investments in his state, Mr Naidu met Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang and other ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) officials who openly spoke about difficulties in investing in India.
"Even there are some reservations in China. We are not clearing their proposals at speed or visas for tourists' visas are not being cleared. They have expressed open reservation. I said I will take it up with government of India and with the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi," he said hoping that things will be sorted out before PM Modi's visit to Beijing next month.
But at the same time Chinese were receptive as Andhra's proposed capital Amaravathi's linkages with Buddhism and its famous Buddhist Monk Nagarjuna, who travelled to foreign lands like Japan and China to spread Buddhism, he said.
The focus of his talks in Beijing was to develop the vast port network taking advantage of 974-km long coast line, one of the longest among Indian states to make it a gateway to India.
He said his talks mainly focussed on construction which is China's strength.
Secondly, he wants to build high-speed train connectivity for which a non-binding MoU was signed for a feasibility study.
He plans to connect Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Amaravathi, Kurnool, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Kolkata with high-speed trains.
He is hopeful as China plans to do a feasibility study to build high speed train between Chennai and New Delhi which would pass through Andhra Pradesh. He said under the new provisions state government and the Indian railways can create special purpose vehicles for different areas.
"We will try to attract private investment for high speed trains and connect speed cargo to ports with Andhra and hinterland of India," he said.
The new capital Amaravathi, the blue print of which is being developed by Singapore, will take shape before 2020. Its construction will begin once the master developer is identified to mobilise necessary funds, he said, adding that it will be one of the best cities in the world.
It will be build on both sides of the Krishna river. The biggest strength of his state will offer to the world is ease in doing business within 21 days, he said.
Amaravthi will be a logistic hub with vast road, port and airport connectivity.
Ruling out problems over land acquisition for projects, he said that 35,000 acres have been acquired under land pooling system under which 25 per cent would to farmers after development. People have given the land voluntarily, he said despite propaganda from opposition.
Mr Naidu praised PM Modi for improving India's image with a number campaigns like 'Make in India ' which has generated lot of interest abroad. There is high visibility for India.
He addressed a meeting on business opportunities in his state in which some of the top Chinese firms participated. He also visited top Chinese telecom firm Huawei and invited it to set up a research and development centre like the one it has in Bangalore and manufacture its machinery in Andhra.
After his visit to Beijing, Mr Naidu will go Chengdu and later Shanghai where he would address similar investment meetings before wrapping up his weeklong tour.