Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu urged visiting China Communist Party (CPC) high level functionary Chen Fengxiang to include Andhra Pradesh in the proposed ambitious Maritime Silk Road project. Naidu raised the issue when the vice minister of International department of CPC Chen Fengxiang, with a six-member delegation, called on him today in Vijayawada.

The Maritime Silk Road(MSR) is proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping as part of China’s ‘one belt and one road’ initiative. The MSR is an attempt to promote economic cooperation and connectivity by reviving the ancient maritime Silk Road trading route. To this end, China has pledged US$40 billion in the Silk Road Fund to develop infrastructure along the route. The MSR will extend from Quanzhou in China’s Fujian province, heading south to Malacca Strait. From Kuala Lumpur it will head to Kolkata before crossing the northern Indian Ocean to Nairobi. Now, Sri Lanka is planning to join the project. Against the backdrop, chief minister Naidu urged the Chinese dignitary that Vizag of Andhra Pradesh occupies strategic space between Kolkata and Chennai and it was eminently qualified to be included in the project.

Naidu also urged the Chinese leader that the Communist China should treat Amaravati as the second home for Chinese investments after Shanghai. Naidu narrated to the Chinese leader how he was planning to develop Amaravati as one of the top five cities in the world and invited China to participate in the development of world-class city. Naidu also recalled the cordial relationship the TDP had with Communist Party of China.

Responding to the proposal of AP CM Chen Fengxiang assured that China would attach great importance to Andhra Pradesh and expressed China’s willingness to participate Amavarati development.