The West Bengal (WB) Chief Minister (CM), Mamata Banerjee cancelled her nine-day trip to China today. The decision came through just hours before she was to fly out. The reason being, Beijing’s inability to confirm her meetings with the Chinese Communist Party leadership “at an appropriate level”.
The cancellation was announced by the WB Finance Minister, Amit Mitra at a hastily-called media briefing at the State Secretariat at 2.30 pm. She was scheduled to fly out last night.
“Till yesterday everything was going on well but unfortunately the Chinese side could not confirm the political meetings at appropriate level,” Mitra said informed the media from a prepared statement.
Hours later, the Chinese consulate in Kolkata, which had played a key role in organizing the visit, put out a statement that suggested Ms Banerjee may have acted “in haste”.
“At the time the announcement was made, the Chinese side was still working on the arrangements and remained in contact with the Indian Embassy in China,” the consulate said in a statement.
Mr Mitra said Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is presently out of the country, and Foreign Secretary VK Gokhale have been informed about her decision.
Soon after, Mamata Banerjee put out a series of tweets on her China visit in which she said, the visit would not have served any purpose since the Chinese side did not confirm the political meetings.
Also Read: Biometrics not used in criminal investigations: UIDAI
“Therefore, the purpose of my visit with a delegation to China under the exchange programme is of no use,” Mamata Banerjee tweeted.
“However, I wish the continuation of the friendship of India and China in the days to come and it should strengthen further in the interest of both the countries,” she added.
It has been revealed that the Foreign Minister, Sushma Swaraj had asked the CM to make the visit in March this year under the government’s exchange programme with the Communist Party of China’s international department.
“Till yesterday everything was going on well but unfortunately the Chinese side could not confirm the political meetings at an appropriate level,” she said.
The Indian Ambassador to China, Gautam Bambawale, had tried his best to make the programme a success but the meetings proposed by the Indian side could not be confirmed by the Chinese authority.
This isn’t the first time that Ms Banerjee’s plans to visit China have run into trouble.
She was expected to travel to China to seek foreign investment in 2017 but it did not work out because of the tensions at that time over Doklam. According to reports, the foreign ministry had then advised her not to visit.
Also Read: Combating climate change rooted in India’s ethos: Swaraj
This time also, she had hoped to reach out to industrialists at events to be held in Shanghai. But her sudden cancellation has taken china watchers aback.
China said they are committed to promoting ties between Chinese provinces and Indian states. Reacting to Mamata’s decision, the Chinese Consulate Kolkata said they were still trying to arrange the meetings.
“It (China) was working hard to prepare for the Chief Minister’s trip to China, including on the relevant arrangements during the visit. At the time the announcement was made, the Chinese side was still working on the arrangements and remained in contact with the Indian Embassy in China,” the Consulate said in a statement.
It further asserted that China gives great importance to its relationship with India and will continue its efforts in enhancing friendly exchanges.