China, India share vision of accelerating relations

BEIJING, Jan. 15 -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has signed strategic documents with visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The two sides believe it's time to look to the future in building a relationship of friendship and trust.

Premier Wen Jiabao held a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People for his Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh, on Monday afternoon.

During thier formal talks, the two sides shared views on how to deepen strategic cooperation in a changing world.

Wen Jiabao said the two Asian neighbors should be partners rather than rivals, because each country has its own strengths.

He extended an invitation to the Indian president to visit China next year to strengthen high-level exchanges.

On Sino-Indian border disputes, both countries made a commitment to keeping the peace.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiaobao said, "We agree to put forward fair and rational plans to solve the border issue as soon as possible through negotiations and mutual understanding. Pending the settlement, we will maintain peace and calm in the border area."

The two heads of government signed historic documents on a shared vision for the 21st century, as well as 10 other papers and memorandums of understanding... including cooperation in culture and science, railway transport, traditional medicine, geological surveying and medical cooperation.

Indian Prime Manmohan Singh said, "India and China of regional and world significance...Shared View of the 21st Century is a milestone...reflects not only common concern, but also desire to cooperate in the future."

Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister Singh agreed to increase the 2010 trade volume target from 40 billion US dollars to 60 billion dollars. And they agreed to hold their second joint military drill in India this year.

China and India are Asia's two fastest growing economies. With a combined population of one third of the world's total, the partnership between the two neighbors has acquired global significance. They're trying to find a sound settlement for the decade-old border dispute, because a peaceful region is in the interests of both countries.

(Source: cctv.com)