Imphal, June 19: Manipur commerce and industries minister Thongam Biswajit Singh, who is visiting China, has proposed improvement in trade ties between India and China in general and Manipur in particular.

Leading an eight-member delegation from Manipur, Biswajit is touring China to observe their progress and to interact with Chinese officials to explore the possibilities of better ties.

Biswajit was invited by the mayor of Baoshan, Yang Jun, to attend South and Southeast Asia Commodity Expo and Investment Fair that began last Monday and concluded yesterday at Dianchi International Convention and International Sistership Pavilion at Kunming in Yunnan province.

Parliamentary secretary of tourism Sapam Ranjan Singh and senior officials from the state commerce and industries department are accompanying the minister.

The team, which began its tour on Thursday, visited several places in China and interacted with several officials.

Yesterday, the minister met India's consul general Sailas Thangal and discussed ways to strengthen economic ties between the two countries.

"During the meeting, he (Biswajit) discussed the ways through which the India-China relationship could be developed and trade ties, especially between Manipur and China, could be improved," L. Bashantakumar Sharma , coordinator to chief minister Nongthombam Biren Singh, said in a release.

Underscoring China's importance in developing Manipur's economy, Biswajit said his government would work to incorporate the ideas he had acquired during his trip to the neighbouring country, the release added.

Thangal explained the importance of Yunnan province in developing the Manipur-China relations, the release said. "Yunnan can be a developmental model for Manipur as well. The two provinces have many similarities, including their geographical and climatic conditions. Like Manipur, various ethnic groups live in Yunnan too."

The Manipur team attended an international organisations' meet during which the participating countries made suggestions on investments to accelerate growth in trade and commerce not only between China and the Southeast Asian countries but also with other countries.

The team visited Yiwu International Trade City of Baoshan. The members were accompanied by Chen Jihanhua, general manager of the trade city. Jihanhua assured the visitors that they would provide a helping hand to Manipur to develop trade and commerce, the release said.

The minister invited Jihanhua to attend Sangai festival, Manipur's annual tourism event, which is held in Imphal in November.

This is the first visit by an Indian minister to Baoshan to discuss ways to improve trade relations between the two countries, the release said.

Interacting with the Baoshan municipal authorities, Biswajit discussed several issues, including strengthening of economic cooperation in the fields of industry, agriculture and tourism.

Representatives of the Northeast Federation on International Trade Development, Manipur chapter, were also a part of the visitors' team.