India’s Ambassador to China Ms. Nirupama Rao, India’s Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports, Panchayati Raj and Development of the North-East Region Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar, who is also head of Indian Youth Delegation to China, visited Tsinghua SEM on June 8, 2007, where the Indian visitors held discussion with Chair of the Department of Business Strategy and Policy, Professor Wei Jie on “the development of Township and Village Enterprises (TVEs) in China and India”. Secretary of Tsinghua University Committee of Communist Youth League Cui Jian, Associate Director of International Office of Tsinghua SEM You Hong attended the discussion.

Prof. Wei Jie is a cutting-edge researcher in the field of Chinese TVEs' development studies. At the meeting, he explained the reasons of TVE emergence inChina, TVE distribution by regions, Chinese TVEs' development history and their transition to market-oriented operation after 1990s. According to Prof. Wei, 10% of Chinese TVEs survived after years of market competition, becoming key private enterprises inChina, like Galanz, Kelon, while 90% of the original TVEs have withdrawn from the market. The concept “TVE”, therefore, was not in common usage inChinaafter 2000.

(Professor Wei Jie, Chair of the Department of Business Strategy and Policy, Tsinghua SEM)

After Prof. Wei’s presentation, Ms Nirupama Rao and Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar communicated with Prof. Wei on questions about the investors of Chinese TVEs, workers salary and welfare, skills training, relationship with neighboring residents and the development of TVEs inIndia, etc..

Mr. Aiyar said, there’s a large population inIndia’s rural areas, with low living standards. The Indian government is stepping up efforts in promoting the development of local TVEs. Mr. Aiyar expressed thanks for Prof. Wei’s introduction and explanation onChina’s TVEs, and invited professors and experts from Tsinghua SEM to pay a visit toIndiaand understand more about local TVEs and put forward suggestions on the enterprises’ development.

(India’s Ambassador toChina,Ms. Nirupama Rao andIndia’s Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports as well as head of Indian Youth Delegation toChina,Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar)

Friday’s discussion was part of the activities inTsinghuaUniversityfor the visiting Indian Youth Delegation toChinaheaded by Mr. Aiyar. A 100-member delegation of Indian youths from all walks of life started their 10-day China tour from June 7, 2007 at the invitation of All-China Youth Federation (ACYF).The visit is part of an exchange program proposed by Chinese President Hu Jintao during his visit to India in November last year. President Hu proposed to invite 500 Indian youth to visitChinawithin five years.