Dec 19-23, 1988: Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi pays an official visit to China

At the invitation of Premier Li Peng, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi of India paid an official visit to China between December 19-23, 1988. The first visit to China by an Indian prime minister in 34 years, this is a major event in Sino-Indian relations.

Premier Li Peng held talks with Prime Minister Gandhi, and Chinese President Yang Shangkun and Deng Xiaoping, Chairman of China's Central Military Commission, respectively met him.

They had extensive exchange of views on bilateral relations and international issues of mutual interest. The leaders of two countries noted with appreciation progress made in bilateral cooperation and exchanges in trade, cultural, science and technology, aviation and other fields in recent years and hoped that both countries could benefit from each other's experience in many fields.

The two sides emphasized that the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence jointly initiated by China and India are the fundamental principles guiding state to state relations and the establishment of a new international political order and economic order.

The two sides agreed that to restore, improve and develop good neighborly relations between China and India on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, a shared desire of both countries, meets the fundamental interests of the Chinese and Indian peoples and will exert positive impact on peace and stability in both Asia and the world at large.

The leaders of the two countries held in-depth talks on the Sino-Indian boundary issue. Premier Li Peng stated China's principled position on the boundary issue and stressed that to act in the spirit of mutual understanding and mutual accommodation is the only way to resolve this issue.

The two sides agreed to settle the boundary issue through peaceful and friendly consultation. It was agreed that at the same time of seeking a solution to the boundary issue acceptable to both sides, the two countries should actively develop the bilateral relations in other fields and create an atmosphere and conditions conducive to a reasonable settlement of the boundary issue.

The two sides decided to take concrete steps to this end, including setting up a joint working group on the boundary issue and a joint group on economy, trade and science and technology.

China expressed concern over activities against the motherland by some Chinese Tibetans in India. Prime Minister Gandhi reiterated that Tibet is an autonomous region of China and that India does not allow these Tibetans to engage in political activities against China in India.

During Gandhi's visit, the two governments signed an agreement on cooperation in science and technology, an agreement on civil aviation transportation and plans to implement the bilateral cultural agreements for 1988 to 1990.

Prime Minister Gandhi invited Premier Li Peng to visit India at a time convenient to him, which Premier Li Peng accepted with pleasure.

At the end of the visit, a joint press communiqué was issued by both sides.

After Gandhi's visit to China, high level visits at and above ministerial level between the two countries increased significantly, and the bilateral exchanges in various fields expanded quickly. The two governments have worked to promote bilateral cooperation in the trade, cultural, science and many other fields and enhanced consultation and cooperation in international affairs.