"As a large country with more than 1 billion people and developing fast, India should be, and is capable of, playing a more and more important role in international affairs," Wen said.

The premier also addressed many of India's concerns.

On cross-border rivers that India has long claimed China is damming, Wen said "any exploitation in the upper stream will go through scientific planning and studies" and interests of the lower-reach nations will be taken fully into account. Earlier in the day, the two nations' ministries of water resources signed a memorandum for China to provide data to India.

Wen also said Beijing would like to strengthen consultation with India on political and military affairs to beef up mutual trust.

Wen said that India and China were not rivals and there was room in the world for both powers to develop. "China will forever hold positive views on the development of a stronger India... We're friends and will never be rivals," he said.

A series of agreements were signed on finance, green technology, and media exchanges.

Singh accepted Wen's invitation to visit China next year.

B.R. Deepak, a professor at the Center of Chinese and Southeast Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said Wen's remarks sent a positive message.

"It is encouraging to hear China is willing to allow the Indian service sector, pharmaceutical and agricultural products to enter the Chinese market. It will help bring down India's trade deficit," Deepak said.

"Establishing a strategic and economic dialogue mechanism with India means both sides regard each other as a very important partner," said Fu Xiaoqiang, a scholar in South Asia studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

It could help smooth economic friction, but the significance lies more in filling the trust deficit and enabling India and China to work more closely on international affairs, Fu added.

Wen's visit, the first of a Chinese premier in five years, has dominated headlines. On Thursday Indian TV ran extensive footage of Wen shaking hands with Singh, while many papers published special editions to mark the visit.

The Hindustan Times newspaper covered almost every detail of Wen's trip.

"Wen Jiabao's trip to India... lacks the hype and glamour that accompanied the recent visits by US President Barack Obama and his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy. But ... it can potentially deliver far higher strategic and economic dividends," the paper said.

Wen will leave India on Friday for a two-day state visit to Pakistan.