June 22, 2018
Mamata Banerjee’s trip to China cancelled
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s trip to China has been cancelled.
In March this year, the Union Minister of External Affairs had recommended to the CM to kindly consider leading a delegation to China under the Exchange Programme of the Government of India with the International Department of the Communist Party of China.
In response, on April 2, 2018, Mamata Banerjee had appreciated her recommendation for me to lead the delegation to China under the Exchange Programme. She had mentioned to her that “since the interest of my country is involved, I wish to visit China sometime during last week of June, 2018”.
Thereafter, in pursuance of the letters from Chief Secretary and the Ambassador of India in China, a programme was chalked out, based on which the visit was planned.
“Till yesterday, everything was going on well, but unfortunately, the Chinese side could not confirm the political meetings at appropriate level as informed by our Ambassador in China. Our Indian Ambassador in China requested time till today 12.00 noon of our time, which is 2.30 p.m. of China’s time for a confirmation to the political meetings, as proposed by the Indian Ambassador to the Chinese Authority,” the Chief Minister wrote on her Facebook page.
“It has now been intimated by our Ambassador in China that the political meetings at the appropriate level under the Exchange Programme could not be confirmed. Therefore, the purpose of my visit with a delegation to China under the Exchange Programme is of no use,” the CM wrote.
She added, “Although our Ambassador in China had tried his best to make the programme a success, non-confirmation of the political meetings at the appropriate level as proposed by the Indian Ambassador to China, at the last moment, has unfortunately compelled us to cancel the visit.”
However, Mamata Banerjee wished for the continuation of the friendship of India and China in the days to come so that it strengthens further in the interest of both the countries.
