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The Prime Minister of China, Mr. Wen Jiabao, who is currently on a four-day visit to India, called on the Vice President, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat at Vice President House, here today. He was accompanied by th+e members of his delegation.
Welcoming Mr. Jiabao, the Vice President said that the people of India and China have close cultural and friendly ties spanning over centuries. Nearly one-third of the world’s population lives in these two countries and it is widely believed that the 21st century will be the century of Asia-Pacific. He said that close economic relations between India and China have immense developmental possibilities, not only for the two countries but also for other under-developed and developing countries of the world. Shri Shekhawat welcomed the formulation of guiding principles for amicable settlement of the border dispute between the two countries. He also underlined the need for working out an action plan on the basis of the report of the Joint Study Group on increasing economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Underlining further the need for increased people to people contact, Shri Shekhawat wished success to Mr. Jiabao’s current visit to India and said that this would prove as a significant step towards increasing cooperation and settling the disputes between the two countries. This would also give a positive signal to the whole world, he added.
Shri Shekhawat recalled his visit to China in 2001 and said that he was particularly impressed with the steps taken by China for rural development and population control.
Mr. Jiabao concurred that India and China are two large developmental countries and increased cooperation and friendship between the two countries will have its impact on the whole world. He said that the aim of his visit is to increase mutual understanding and strengthen our friendship. He said that he wants to initiate a new chapter in the history of Indo-China relations so that the two countries could strengthen their respective economies in a spirit of partnership and cooperation in as many areas as possible. Briefing the Vice President about his visit to Bangalore, he said that he was impressed with the progress of India not only in the field of Information Technology but in various other fields also.
During the 45-minutes meeting the two leaders also exchanged views on various other aspects of strengthening cultural and economic relations between India and China.
AK/SK/JA
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