Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said in New Delhi Sunday that China and India should expand cooperation and exchanges and enhance people-to-people contacts in various fields so as to further consolidate the basis for bilateral friendship and cooperation.  

Jia made the remarks at a meeting with Manohar Gajanan Joshi, speaker of Lok Sabha (House of the People) of India, pointing out the momentum of steady development of Sino-Indian relations as results of joint efforts made by both sides.

He mentioned the Sino-Indian joint declaration on principles for relations and comprehensive cooperation, which was signed during Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to China this year.

The declaration has deepened mutual trust, expanded consensus and opened a new chapter for the overall development of bilateral relations in the new century, said Jia.

He said that to develop friendly and cooperative relations between China and India conforms to the fundamental interests of the two peoples, adding that mutual understanding serves as the basis of building mutual trust and the pre-condition for developing cooperation.

Jia called for more exchanges between political parties, youth, non-governmental institutions and local governments of the two countries.

Joshi said both India and China are big developing countries with ancient civilizations and are concentrating on their economic development.

He said the current India-China relations have progressed smoothly and the two governments are making efforts to promote bilateral cooperation in various fields.

He said that the Indian parliament has kept contacts with China's National People's Congress and the CPPCC, believing that Jia's current visit will enhance bilateral understanding and push forward development of bilateral relations.

Jia arrived here Sunday afternoon for an official goodwill visit to India at the invitation of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, vice president and chairman of Rajya Sabha of India.

India is the first leg of Jia's visit to five south Asian nations. The four others are Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan.

(Xinhua News Agency November 23, 2003)