Both Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee talked about a good trend of development in Sino-Indian relations while they met on the sidelines of the meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bali, Indonesia Wednesday.

During their meeting, Wen said Vajpayee's China visit in June this year had achieved fruitful results, bringing with him the wishes of peace, friendship, trust and cooperation.

As a result, he said, the two sides have increased mutual understanding and built up confidence.

The declaration on principles guiding Sino-Indian relations and on all-round cooperation signed by the two countries marked a new stage of development in the Sino-Indian ties, Wen said.

At present, the Sino-Indian relations are enjoying a good trend of development, he said, adding he is satisfied with this.

Wen said China is willing to join hands with India in following the principles laid down in the declaration, implement the consensus reached between the two sides, and make new contribution to the two countries' good-neighborliness, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Wen also said he was happy that Vajpayee was here to hold meetings with leaders of ASEAN member countries for the first time.

He said East Asia plus India and other South Asian countries have a population of more than 3 billion, about half of the world's total. The stability, development and revitalization of Asia aresurely of great importance in the history of the world, he added.

In response, Vajpayee said that at present there is a good trend of development in the bilateral relations, as is shown by frequent exchange of high-level visits between the two countries and rapid growth of economic and trade ties.

He said the Indian government is willing to deepen its mutually beneficial cooperation with China and solve the existing problems between the two countries through friendly dialogues and negotiations.
 
(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2003)