China and India, the world's two biggest developing countries, reinforced their confidence to further develop ties, vowing to promote their relations to a higher level.

 

In a speech delivered at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, a top government think tank, visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demonstrated his confidence about the role the two nations will play in transforming Asia and the world.

 

"I look forward with optimism to the future and the role which India and China are destined to play in the transformation of Asia and the world," he said.

 

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh delivers a speech at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, capital of China, Jan, 15, 2008. Singh is in China for a three-day visit that began on Sunday. It was his first visit since taking office in 2004. (Xinhua Photo)

 

Singh conveyed his optimism to Chinese President Hu Jintao in their meeting on Tuesday afternoon, saying Sino-Indian relations are facing new and bigger opportunities to develop, and the cooperation between the two would benefit not only Asia, but also the world at large.

 

Echoing Singh's view, Hu said the countries should maintain high-level exchange and cooperation in various fields, calling on the two to deepen the strategic dialogue and cooperation in an effort to intensify the political and social foundation for the development of the bilateral relations.

 

Hu suggested the two sides fortify their cooperation in fields such as trade, energy, science and technology and investment. He proposed sensitive issues be settled through dialogue based on the spirit of mutual respect and equal consultation.

 

The two nations should also work closer to address global challenges and safeguard the interests of developing countries, he added.

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China and India on Monday signed a joint document of their shared vision for accelerating bilateral ties and making joint efforts in contributing to world development.

 

The joint document, "A Shared Vision for the 21st Century of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of India", covers extensive fields, both bilateral and multilateral. It touches on economy, politics, energy, nuclear, climate change, disarmament, terrorism, religion, regional trade and integrity, defense and the border issue.

 

Officials and scholars called the document a milestone for relations between the two countries.

 

Singh told Hu he was convinced the bilateral relations could maintain the momentum of growth if based on the guidelines of the seven-page document.

 

In his meeting with Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, Singh said India is accelerating its pace to deepen the reform and expanding the opening-up scheme.

 

The fast-growing economies of India and China would have significant impact on the world economy, which also offered more extensive fields for the two to consolidate cooperation, Singh said

 

Agreeing with Singh's views on the bilateral relations, Wu also encouraged the two parliaments to foster exchange and cooperation.

 

"We would like to see more Indian parliament members visit China and we hope the inter-parliamentary cooperation will contribute to the development of the bilateral relations," Wu said.

 

Singh ended his three-day visit on Tuesday. It was his first China visit since taking office in 2004.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2008)