The Hindu : National : China for opening up Stilwell Road

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 23, 2005

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National

China for opening up Stilwell Road

By Sushanta Talukdar

GUWAHATI, FEB. 22. A visiting Chinese trade delegation has urged India to open up the historic Stilwell Road that connects north-east India with the Yunan province of China through Myanmar, to facilitate trade between the two nations through the route.

During an interaction with officials of Assam and the Central Government and entrepreneurs north-eastern States here yesterday, the delegation insisted that Stilwell Road, known as Tea Horse Road in the Yunan province, would be the focal point to carry forward the trade among South-Asian countries.

The 16-member delegation led by Wu Xiaoli, vice-president of the Yunan Provincial Chamber of Commerce, arrived here on February 19 to take part in the 12th edition of the International Guwahati Trade Fair which began on February 21. The interaction was arranged by the Industries and Trade Fair Association of Assam, the organisers of the fair.

Both Mr. Xiaoli and the Vice-Mayor of Baoshen city of Yunan, Yang Canzhang, said that once the Stilwell Road was opened the trade and investment among north-east India, Yunan and Myanmar would increase.

Named after Gen. J.W. Stilwell, the 1,800-km road was built during World War II to allow the Allied Armies to enter China from India to counter Japanese aggression. On the Chinese side the road is now a super expressway stretching 1,150 km. On the Myanmar side out of 525 km of the road, about 160 km was reported to be in bad condition. On the Indian side, 71 km from upper Assam town Ledo to Phangsau Pass in Arunachal Pradesh, it is covered by the National Highway. The Road connects Ledo with Kunming, the capital of Yunan province.

He Jian, a member of the delegation manning a stall at the trade fair displaying Chinese goods, mostly green tea and coffee and herbal medicines, was overwhelmed by the response from visitors. ``If we have good communication through land route then perhaps we can bring in more goods and in adequate quantity for sale in this kind of fair,'' He Jian told The Hindu.

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