India, China hold discussions on bilateral ties, cooperation

Our Economic Bureau

New Delhi, May 17: INDIA and China on Thursday held wide-ranging discussions to further consolidate bilateral ties and co-operation.

At the end of an hour-long meeting in the Capital with visiting top ranking Chinese politburo member Li Changchun, external affairs minister Jaswant Singh said, “It is our continuing conviction that as two ancient civilisations, there is no other alternative but to pursue the path of peace and development.”

Mr Singh described Mr Li as India’s “honoured guest,” and termed the discussions as “very good” covering bilateral, economic, international, regional and developmental issues.

While stating that this was his first visit to India, Mr Li said he was “deeply impressed by the rapid economic developments made by India, as also the sentiments of the Indian people.” “In the beginning of the new century, we should work together to promote long, stable, mutually beneficial and co-operative relations between the two countries so that we can make greater contribution to the present world,” Mr Li said. China and India, two ancient civilizations, had made great contributions to the world, he said.

The Chinese leader’s interaction comes close on the heels of India’s recent high-level interaction with the US and Russia.

According to Mr Singh, the Bush administration’s new strategic security policy figured during the talks. India has welcomed Washington’s announcement of unilateral reductions of its nuclear weapons and moving away from hair-trigger alerts.

Mr Li’s week-long visit took him to Mumbai, Hyderabad and Agra before his official meetings in New Delhi.
He was accompanied by a delegation comprising senior officials of the Communist party of China and from the Guangdong province.

The Chinese delegation was accompanied by the Chinese ambassador to India Zhou Gang, whereas the Indian side comprised secretary (west) RS Kalha in the external affairs ministry, joint secretary Nalin Suri and other officials.