China and India are partners rather than competitors, linked by cooperation rather than competition, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told an Indian parliamentary delegation in Beijing on Tuesday.

 

As neighbors and both major developing countries, China and India shared broad common interests, Wen told the delegation headed by Somnath Chatterjee, speaker of the House of the People.

 

The friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and India served the interests of both and would preserve peace and prosperity in Asia and world, Wen said.

 

He hailed the strategic cooperative partnership established between the two countries, saying China would work with India to seek common development.

 

"China sincerely hopes for India's development and growing strong. Only if we two countries become strong, can we talk about the era of Asia and can we contribute more to human progress," he said.

 

"There's no force that can block the development of Sino-Indian relations, no force that can destroy the friendship between Chinese and Indian people."

 

Chinese government statistics show trade between the two nations is expected to hit US$20 billion this year, two years earlier than previously anticipated, and exceeded US$18 billion in 2005.

 

The two countries have held talks to settle border issues.

 

Chatterjee agreed with Wen, saying the exchange visits by the two countries' leaders facilitated the development of bilateral ties.

 

The advancement of India-China relations was a consensus between all parties in India, in government and opposition, Chatterjee said, noting India and China could learn from each other and enhance cooperation.

 

The Indian parliament would continue to cooperate with China's National People's Congress (NPC) and contribute to the development of the relations.

 

The Chinese and Indian parliaments on Monday officially launched regular exchanges, agreeing to hold annual consultations to discuss issues concerning parliamentary exchanges, according to a memorandum signed by Chatterjee and Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 5, 2006)