OTDC to promote Orissa in China

BHUBANESWAR: Orissa and Jiangxi Province of China will be sisters soon.The sisterhood would primarily be based on Buddhist tourism but would encompass development of trade ties, including cooperation in small and medium industries sector and agriculture.A pact in this regard was signed between Friends of China Society (India) and Jiangxi Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries at a function in Delhi on Monday.Informing this to mediapersons on Tuesday, OTDC Chairman Jyotiskar Mohapatra said the issue is being processed at the ministry level and an MoU to formalise the sisterhood status would be signed later this year.He added that under the pact, road shows would soon be organised by the Tourism Department in Beijing, Shanghai, Sichuan and also in other provinces of China to sell Orissa to the Chinese. On the occasion, Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra said the tourism potential of Orissa is yet to be explored by Asian countries. “It is not only the cradle of Buddhism but also the propagator of the religion to the outside world.Besides, Orissa is home to other natural and cultural treasures,” Mohapatra said.Ambassador of China Zhang Yue said the partnership between Orissa and China seeks to change the attitude and make Orissa the most sought after place for Buddhist travellers. “We seek to revive the old ties that China had with Orissa of the yore,” he added. Former election commissioner GVG Krishnamurthy and Vice-Governor of Jiangxi Provincial People’s Government of China, Sun Gang, were present.