Brasilia, April 16: Observing that India-China cooperation was important for peace and stability in the region and beyond, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Hu Jintao today decided to push further their strategic partnership and agreed to give greater market access to each others products to boost trade.
At the talks between Singh and Hu here, there was no reference to contentious issues like China giving stapled visas to Kashmiris and participating in developmental projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, with the spokesman saying such matters were taken up by External Affairs Minister S M Krishna when he travelled to Beijing from April 5 to 8.
The two sides agreed that the Special Representatives would meet as early as possible to discuss the boundary question, pending whose resolution the two countries would maintain peace and tranquillity along the border.
The Prime Minister introduced to the Chinese President National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, who was nominated as the new Special Representative of India about three weeks back, succeeding M K Narayanan.
During the 45-minute meeting, it was emphasised that India and China were not competitors but partners, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash told reporters.
Hu said he agreed with Singh’s remarks that the world was large enough to accommodate the aspirations of both India and China.
Both sides were of the view that cooperation and friendship between India and China would be a “win-win” situation and beneficial for peace, stability and prosperity of the region and world at large, Prakash said while giving details of the conversation.
The two leaders noted that the Strategic and Cooperative Partnership between the two countries had gained in strength.
The Prime Minister said India was fully committed to taking it forward, Prakash said. Hu responded by expressing the similar desire.
Chinese Special Representative for the boundary talks Dai Bingguo was also present at the meeting. The two sides have already held 13 rounds of Special Representative-level talks.
Singh and Hu decided to expand and deepen cooperation and identified defence, education, science and technology, hi-technology, agriculture besides trade and investment sectors in this regard.
The two leaders noted that trade and investment was “one of the cores” and “a key pillar” of bilateral relations and said both sides were encouraging their companies to invest more in each other’s nation.
In this regard, the two leaders agreed to facilitate greater access to their markets, the MEA spokesman said.
Bilateral trade between India and China has jumped hugely from USD one billion in 2001 to USD 52 billion in 2008.
The volume of trade dipped to USD 43 billion in 2009 because of the global economic slowdown but it bounced back by 50 per cent in the first two months of the current financial year.
However, trade imbalance to the tune of USD 15.8 billion in favour of China is one of the issues of concern for India and efforts are being made to correct it. Both sides optimistic that 60 billion trade target would be achieved.
They agreed to remain in touch on international issues like climate change and terrorism, which affects both the countries and world at large. Also agreed to continue coordination at G-20 and Doha Round of talks.
India wants rapid growth in balanced trade and this has been conveyed to China, which is appreciative of this and has agreed to work towards it.
-PTI