KOLKATA: In yet another step towards reviving the Southern Silk Trade Route that linked India and China prior to World War II , officials of India and China have inked the Kolkata declaration that calls for setting up of industrial zones in Bengal and Yunnan province of China.

The declaration signed by the head of Chinese delegation Kong Can (vice-director of the Yunnan Development Research Centre ) and head of Indian delegation Krishnan Srinivasan (former foreign secretary) builds on the proposed land corridor between Kunming and Kolkata. Earlier this year, a CII-led delegation comprising Indians, Bangladeshis, Myanmarese and Chinese had organized a car rally from Kolkata to Kunming to push for the development of a highway on this route.

If the proposed highway is completed, it can slash the trade route by 2,000 km as goods between India and China now travel through the sea route via Malacca Straits. However, Indo-Bangla ties are a major hurdle as Dhaka has linked the opening up of its borders with India to Teesta water treaty.

The Kolkata declaration included establishing sister city relationship between Kolkata and Kunming, promoting economic and cultural relationship between eastern India and south-west China, deepening economic exchange between commercial and industrial bodies from both regions and opening markets and greater academic engagement between India and China.

The next K2K forum will be held in Kunming next year.

