China-India ties make big strides

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-14-2008 12:59

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to China is a special event for both countries. Looking back at recent years, relations between the two have made big strides.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during their meeting in Singapore on Nov. 21, 2007. (Xinhua File Photo)

In April 2005, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited India at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The two countries signed a joint statement, agreeing to establish a strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity.

The visit was a great success, according to Professor Ma Jiali at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, and marked a new stage of development in China-India relations.

Research professor Ma Jiali of CICIR said, China and India are close neighbours, as well as fast-developing countries. The establishment of a strategic partnership will undoubtedly strengthen trust, deepen friendship, expand cooperation and plan for the future.

Looking back over the past two years, trade and economic cooperation has been fruitful. In 2007, the trade volume between the two countries was more than 35 billion US dollars. That sum makes China India's No.1 trading partner.

Cultural exchanges in education, tourism, religion, media and sports are also healthy. The China-India Friendship Year in 2006 was taken a step further with 2007's Tourism Friendship Year.

Delegates from both sides have held three meetings in 2007 over the long-standing border issue, aiming to bring peace and stability to the border for many years to come.

Ma Jiali said, Chinese and Indian people have realized that the two countries have more agreements than disagreements in politics, more mutual benefits than competitiveness in economy, and more similarities than differences in culture. So the bilateral relations will continue to strengthen.

China and India also cooperate and coordinate closely in major regional and international issues. The two countries have worked together in strategic dialogue, foreign policy negotiation, and counter-terrorism talks.

The friendship between China and India dates back some 2000 years. Despite some negative experiences in the 1960s, friendly ties between the two countries are now developing fast. Improved relations will not only benefit people of China and India, but also Asia, and the rest of the world.

Editor:Zhang Ning