Updated on Saturday, December 27, 2008, 00:00 IST

Shimla, Dec 27: China will extend technical and allied expertise in tourism, herbal, hydro power and horticulture sectors to Himachal Pradesh, a Chinese delegation led by its Ambassador in India Zhang Yan said on Saturday.

Yan led a high-level delegation comprising officials of his embassy and project director of Longjian Road and Bridge Ltd Yuan Yuesheng to Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.

Dhumal raised with the Chinese authorities the issue of providing access to the Mansarovar pilgrims through Himachal Pradesh, the shortest and comparatively safer route to the pilgrimage centre which falls in Chinese territory, an official release said here.

He said he would be writing to the Centre to take up the issue with the Chinese government.

Dhumal said the state would welcome investment and technical expertise from China in promotion of tourism, horticulture, hydro power and herbal production.

The bordering areas of both the countries had common topography where similar herbs could be cultivated to give boost to the traditional system of ayurvedic medicines, he said.

The Chinese Ambassador said his country would be volunteering its expertise in tourism and other fields. He invited Dhumal to China to see for himself the development and other projects of concern which could be beneficial to the state in future development.

Bureau Report