The Confederation of Indian Industry on Thursday relaunched its operations in China on a larger scale by opening its east Asia regional representative office in Shanghai, the commercial capital of the Communist nation.

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Inaugurating the office as well as launching the India Club- China, Minister for Information Technology and Communications, Arun Shourie said the event would further boost India-China business ties, which is booming in the wake of 70 per cent growth in bilateral trade in the first four months of 2003.

CII, one of India's apex business houses, had a representative office in Shanghai for some years in late 1990s, but closed it down later.

The India Club- China which was also inaugurated in Shanghai would provide a showcase for Indian products and services and generate business enquiries in areas with potential, CII officials said.

The India Club has been designated as CII's one-stop shop for promoting Sino-Indian economic and trade co-operation.

The function was also attended by the Indian Ambassador to China, Shiv Menon and other senior officials.

To mark Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's six-day official visit to China, the CII also published a collection of Vajpayee's poems, which were translated into Chinese language for the first time.