Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday stressed that India, China have not shied away from addressing the boundary question and have wisdom to find a fair and mutually acceptable solution.
“In past two days I have had candid and fruitful meetings with PM Singh and other Indian leaders. We`re both satisfied with these meetings and the international media has taken this very positively,” Keqiang said.
The Chinese Premier made these remarks while addressing university students at a function organised by the ICWA at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi.
The Chinese leader said that peaceful co-existence between India and China will be of global significance and expressed confidence that the two sides have the ability to mitigate their trade imbalance.
“As two neighboring countries, China and India are good partners. We both have a huge market, have a big population. We should see each other`s developments as modes of success for ourselves. Both sides should work together to open up new chapters of China-India cooperation,” he said.
“Returning to India has brought back fond memories. I want to express on behalf of Chinese government, our deep respect to people of India,” the Chinese leader said.
India and China on Monday stressed on maintaining peace and tranquility along their border and on boosting trade ties, including inviting Chinese firms to invest in India in infrastructure development and increasing banking and financial cooperation.
In a joint statement issued after talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, both sides reaffirmed that they view each other as "partners for mutual benefit and not as rivals or competitors".
They said that "pending resolution of the boundary question, the two sides shall work together to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas in line with the previous agreements".
The statement also "expressed satisfaction over the work done so far by Special Representatives of the two countries on the Boundary Question and encouraged them to push forward the process of negotiations and seek a framework for a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement".
The statement also touched on bilateral cooperation in civil nuclear energy in line with their respective international commitments to ensure energy security.
Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in multilateral forums including United Nations, the statement said, adding that China "attaches great importance to India`s status in international affairs as a large developing country, understands and supports India`s aspiration to play a greater role in the United Nations including in the Security Council".
On boosting trade, the two sides said they would strive to realize a trade target of $100 billion by 2015 and agreed to take measures to address the issue of the trade imbalance.
The first meeting of the India-China CEO`s Forum was held during Li`s visit. The prime ministers of both countries "look forward to the recommendations of the Forum to further enhance bilateral trade and investment", it said.
To promote trade and connectivity across the border, the two sides agreed to consider strengthening border trade through Nathu La Pass. The Chinese side said it will provide better facilities to Indian pilgrims on the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, which the Indian side has appreciated.
The two sides also appreciated progress in promoting cooperation under the Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar (BCIM) Regional Forum.
On Afghanistan, both agreed that the issue concerns regional security and stability. As two important countries in the region, they reiterated their support for an "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned" reconciliation process.
On bilateral relations, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to further consolidate the Strategic and Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and mutual sensitivities for each other concerns and aspirations.
Premier Li invited Manmohan Singh to visit China at a mutually convenient time and the latter accepted the invitation with pleasure. The dates of the visit will be decided through diplomatic channels, the statement said.
With IANS inputs
