India will launch its biggest-ever attempt to diversify its export basket to China in Shanghai on Thursday by showcasing the country's prowess in a range of sectors like steel, textiles, tourism, manufacturing, health and information and communications technology.

The four-day 'Made in India' show, to be inaugurated by Commerce and Industry Minister Arun Jaitley, would present a cross-section of corporate India and project the capabilities of small, medium and large Indian companies.

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The 'Made in India' exhibition and associated seminars has been organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry as a direct follow up to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's successful visit to China in June this year, Indian Ambassador to China Nalin Surie said.

"The seriousness that we attach to developing bilateral trade and economic relations is underlined by commerce and industry minister personally coming to China to inaugurate this important exposition," Surie said.

Five major events have been planned during the four-day event with a round table on steel besides conferences on textiles, auto components, tourism and information technology.

India has consistently viewed bilateral relations with China in a positive spirit and seeks friendly, cooperative and mutually beneficial relations with China.

The CII initiative will take forward the momentum gained following the initiatives taken by the governments of India and China.

A high-profile CEOs' delegation is visiting China on the occasion to showcase India's might to their Chinese counterparts.

The India China Week will provide opportunities to showcase India's potential in tourism, health, banking and financial services. A summit on manufacturing is also on the cards to project India's strengths in manufacturing.

The occasion will also see the inauguration of 'India China Club', a permanent display of Indian companies at the Shanghai Mart. The club has been designed as CII's 'one-stop shop' for promoting bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

At the China India Health Summit to be held on October 15, S K Venkataram, chief financial officer, Apollo Hospitals Group, will make a presentation on Indian healthcare and its changing face. There will also be presentations on gastroenterology and minimally invasive surgery by Dr S K Sama, chairman, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

Dr Sameer Srivastava, consultant in cardiology, Escorts Heart Institute & Research Centre, will also make a presentation.

Concurrently, S Jagadeesan, joint secretary, department of industrial policy and research, will inaugurate India China Manufacturing Summit 2003.

The summit will have sessions on 'Building Competencies In Manufacturing Companies', where Jairam Ramesh (economic advisor to the Congress party); J J Irani, director, Tata Sons Ltd; and Lalita Gupte, joint managing director, ICICI Bank will showcase India's strengths in manufacturing.

Subash Chandra Pani, development commissioner (handloom), ministry of textiles, will speak on 'Indian government policies and initiatives' at the seminar on textiles on October 16.

Manish Haria, managing director, Haria Group, will speak on the 'Scope of exports for Indian handlooms.' The seminar will also be addressed by Chen Shujin, vice chairman of China Textile Council.

The CII has also lined up a high profile conference on information and communications technology. Prakash Menon, general manager & head of NIIT, China, will make a presentation on 'India-China Joint Strategy for Growth.'

On October 17, a conference on auto components has been scheduled. K V Shetty, president, ACMA, will showcase the Indian auto component industry's strengths. Chinese counterparts will present a perspective on auto component industry in China.

The highlight of the week will be the round table on steel, where D V Singh, joint secretary, ministry of steel, will present perspectives on 'Indian steel industry - Policy initiatives'. B Muthuraman, managing director, Tata Iron & Steel Company Ltd, will also present the inherent strengths of the Indian steel sector.

The conferences will provide a focused platform for one-to-one meetings between leading members of the Chinese industry and the Indian delegation including SAIL Chairman V S Jain.