Wang Zhonghai, head of Tianshi, China's largest herbal food supplements firm—and a recent entrant into India—read the story when he was a child. "We always take a long-term view of both life and business," says the thirtysomething Wang. "We researched the Indian market for years and then set up operations." Then the company quietly shifted its south Asia headquarters from Bangkok to New Delhi and has started roping in distributors in every major Indian city to market its competitively priced products, expected to give ayurveda a run for its money. Says Wang: "Ours are not mere products but civilisation in bottles."
But the word is out: India is China Inc's next frontier. Days before the Indian embassy in Beijing began finalising modalities of Zhu Rongji's visit, it received a call from the Plastic Manufacturers Association of Canton which wanted details on the Indian plastic industry. "The next day, a 182-strong delegation landed up," says an MEA official. A similar mood prevailed in the deliberations conducted by the 25-member business delegation representing 39 key state-owned enterprises that accompanied Zhu. A week before the Chinese premier landed, a delegation was sent by the All China Lawyers' Association to study the Indian legal systems. "It assumes significance because of China's recent inclusion in the WTO and its emergence as one of India's largest trading partners," says Lalit Bhasin, senior functionary of the Bar Association of India.
Frost-Bite: Chinese Cures 
Don't Split, Share 
