PM touts benefits of Sino-Indian trust

Friendly cooperation is central to Sino-Indian relations, and common interests outweigh differences, Premier Li Keqiang said while meeting visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Friday.

China-India relations have strategic significance and a global impact, as both countries are large developing countries and emerging markets, Li said, urging the neighbors to cherish their ties and expand cooperation.

Li emphasized the importance the Chinese government attaches to developing ties with India.

China would like to enhance political trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation, strengthen people-to-people understanding and expand communication on international and regional issues to cement the China-India strategic partnership, Li said.

Despite existing problems, the two nations have promoted ties in the past years, especially in economic cooperation, experts said.

China is India's top trading partner, and bilateral trade volume reached $66.8 billion between the two countries in 2012.

The two have maintained frequent high-level exchanges and growing political mutual trust since establishing diplomatic ties in 1950.

Regarding the unsettled border issues, Li said Beijing would like to negotiate with India.

China and India experienced a border conflict in 1962. The two countries launched the mechanism of meetings between special representatives on border issues in 2003.

In 2012, Beijing and New Delhi launched a mechanism for consultation and coordination regarding border issues. But ties have still been occasionally affected by territorial issues.

Khurshid also showed a willingness to improve New Delhi's relations with Beijing, saying developing relations benefit both sides and promote regional and global peace and prosperity.

India would like to work with China to send a positive signal of mutual trust and support to the world, as well as effectively control differences and resolve border issues, he said.

The border issues indicate that mutual trust still needs to be deepened, but these issues are not the main focus of China-India ties, said Lyu Zhaoyi, a professor in Indian studies with Yunnan University.

He suggested strengthening people-to-people exchanges so the two nations can have a more objective understanding of each other.

Sun Shihai, a researcher on Indian studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, called for more "practical and deeper" communication between the two countries to increase trust.

Meanwhile, the Social Sciences Academic Press of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences released the Annual Report on India's National Conditions (2011-2012) on Friday.

Deepening mutual understanding and trust are a must to make sure that the two countries can realize rapid development together, the report said.

Xinhua News Agency contributed to the story

zhouwa@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 05/11/2013 page7)