China-India cooperation will lead Asia to a new century of peace, stability and prosperity, according to Liu Jingqin, vice president of Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament, speaking in New Delhi yesterday.

 

China and India's rapid economic growth will support the sustainable and steady economic growth of Asia in general, Liu said at the Seminar on China-India Relations, one of the activities organized to commemorate the "China-India Friendship Year."

 

Both China and India have reported remarkable economic growth in the past few years, which has helped make Asia the most active economic zone in the world, Liu said.

 

India has maintained an annual economic growth of 5.5 percent while China has reported 8-9 percent growth over the past two decades.

 

Liu added that there is great potential for economic cooperation between China and India, and that working together instead of competing with each other would be mutually beneficial.

 

The value of bilateral trade was US$18 billion last year, a year-on-year increase of 32.4 percent.

 

To boost efforts to improve mutual trust and political cooperation, China and India decided to establish a strategic comprehensive partnership for peace and prosperity during Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to India last April.

 

The two should improve cooperation in international and regional issues such as fighting terrorism, coping with environmental problems and protecting the rights of developing countries, Liu added.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2006)