China's Xinjiang tries to woo Indian companies to invest in the region

BEIJING: China's Xinjiang province, which borders Pakistan, wants investment by Indian companies and tourists from India to visit the recreated version of the ancient Silk Road. Leaders from Xinjiang conveyed this to Indian ambassador S Jaishankar who visited the province, including its border towns Kashgar and Hotan.
"There is a cultural cache for India in the region.I feel Xinjiang leaders at all levels want to do business with India because it is a big economy," Jaishankar said after meeting local leaders, including Xinjiang governor Nur Bekri.
Indian officials and industry captains have kept away from the Xinjiang Autonomous Region as they believe the region is more connected to Pakistan and Central Asia, and would be less receptive to India. Indian Businessmen from India ignored invitations to attend the recent Euroasia conference in Urumqi.
Local leaders were encouraged by a recent investment by Kochi's Synthite Industrial Chemicals in project in Korla. State-run companies in Xinjiang are keen to invest in India's infrastructure sector, Jaishankar said.