China's Ambassador Xu Feihong visits SARAS Mela 2026 in Vijayawada
Synopsis
China's Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, stepped into the National SARAS Mela 2026 in Vijayawada — buying products from SHG stalls and publicly praising rural women entrepreneurs. The visit lends a rare diplomatic spotlight to a domestic rural development fair inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu, drawing attention to India's SHG movement at a moment of cautious India-China re-engagement.
Key Takeaways
China's Ambassador Xu Feihong and a five-member delegation visited the National SARAS Mela 2026 at Punnami Ghat, Vijayawada on 18 October 2026 .
The delegation toured stalls, interacted with women entrepreneurs, and purchased products from Self-Help Group (SHG) stalls.
Xu praised the 'remarkable growth' of rural women entrepreneurs and their creativity in product development and marketing.
The mela runs from 17 to 30 October 2026 , features more than 600 stalls , and was inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu on 15 October 2026 .
The event is jointly organised by the Union Ministry of Rural Development and the Andhra Pradesh government .
China's Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, accompanied by his wife Tan Yuxiu and a five-member delegation, visited the National SARAS Mela 2026 at Punnami Ghat in Vijayawada on Sunday, 18 October 2026. The delegation toured stalls showcasing handcrafted and locally made products by rural women entrepreneurs affiliated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) from across India.
Who Was in the Delegation
The five-member Chinese delegation included Ambassador Xu Feihong, his spouse Tan Yuxiu, Minister Counsellor Zhou Guohui, Second Secretary Guo Dongdong, and Secretary to the Ambassador Li Annan. The team was on a scheduled tour of NTR district from 16 to 18 October.
What the Ambassador Saw and Said
During the walkthrough, Ambassador Xu and his delegation interacted with women entrepreneurs, expressed genuine interest in their products, and reportedly made purchases from multiple stalls. Xu expressed appreciation for what he described as the remarkable growth of rural women entrepreneurs and praised their initiative, creativity, and product development and marketing skills. He highlighted the visit as a reflection of the growing economic empowerment of rural women through the Self-Help Group movement.
About the National SARAS Mela 2026
The National SARAS Mela 2026 — an acronym for Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Society — is being held at Punnami Ghat, Vijayawada, from 17 to 30 October 2026. The event is jointly organised by the Union Ministry of Rural Development and the Andhra Pradesh government, and features more than 600 stalls run by women from SHGs across the country. President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the mela on 15 October 2026.
Significance of the Platform
The SARAS Mela serves as a national marketplace for rural women-led enterprises, offering SHG entrepreneurs direct access to customers and new business opportunities beyond their home districts. This year's edition, with over 600 stalls, is among the largest iterations of the event and underscores the Centre's continued emphasis on women-led rural economic growth. The Chinese Ambassador's visit adds a diplomatic dimension to what is primarily a domestic rural development showcase, and comes at a time when India-China engagement at people-to-people and cultural levels has been cautiously expanding following years of strained ties.
Point of View
And people-to-people gestures — however choreographed — are part of that recalibration. What the visit also does, perhaps inadvertently, is amplify the reach of India's SHG movement beyond its domestic audience. The SARAS Mela has long been underreported for its scale; this visit may change that, at least briefly. The more substantive question is whether diplomatic curiosity translates into any tangible trade or export opportunity for the rural women whose products Xu reportedly admired.
NationPress
18 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National SARAS Mela 2026?
The National SARAS Mela 2026 is a national-level fair organised jointly by the Union Ministry of Rural Development and the Andhra Pradesh government at Punnami Ghat, Vijayawada, from 17 to 30 October 2026. It features over 600 stalls run by women from Self-Help Groups across India and provides rural entrepreneurs a platform to showcase and sell their products.
Why did China's Ambassador visit the SARAS Mela?
Ambassador Xu Feihong was on a scheduled tour of NTR district from 16 to 18 October and included the SARAS Mela as part of his itinerary. During the visit, he interacted with women entrepreneurs, purchased products, and expressed appreciation for the growth of rural women-led enterprises.
Who inaugurated the SARAS Mela 2026?
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the National SARAS Mela 2026 on 15 October 2026 at Punnami Ghat in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
What does SARAS stand for?
SARAS is an acronym for Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Society. The mela is designed to give Self-Help Group entrepreneurs direct market access and exposure to a national customer base.
Who accompanied Ambassador Xu Feihong during the visit?
Ambassador Xu Feihong was accompanied by his wife Tan Yuxiu, Minister Counsellor Zhou Guohui, Second Secretary Guo Dongdong, and Secretary to the Ambassador Li Annan — a five-member delegation in total.
