China and India pledged to expand cooperation on both regional and international stages, stated a joint declaration issued on Tuesday.

The two sides should regularly exchange views on the emerging security environment in the Asia-Pacific region and the world, and proactively consult each other on issues of immediate and emerging concern, said the declaration released during Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit to India.

Both sides should maintain regular consultations on issues pertaining to regional peace, security and stability, such as regional maritime security, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as well as related materials and means of delivery, said the declaration.

According to the document, the two sides should positively assess the trilateral dialogue mechanism between China, India and Russia and agree that exchanges and cooperation need be further substantiated.

Additionally, both countries condemned all forms of terrorism and agreed to broaden and deepen the China-India Dialogue Mechanism on Counter-Terrorism, as well as strengthen cooperation to fight terrorism, separatism and extremism.

In the declaration, the two sides recognized the pivotal role of the United Nations in promoting international peace, security and development, and reiterated their determination to strengthen the UN system.

The reform of the UN should be comprehensive, ensure balanced representation among developing and developed countries in the UN Security Council, and improve its functioning efficiency, the declaration said, adding that the two sides should conduct consultations on UN and Security Council reform.

It is consistent with the common interests of the two sides and to the benefit of the entire international community to establish an international energy order, being equitable and stable.

China and India would strive for bilateral and international cooperation to diversify the global energy structure and to increase the amount of renewable energy sources, it said.

International civilian nuclear cooperation should be advanced through innovative and forward-looking approaches, while safeguarding the effectiveness of international non-proliferation principles, according to the declaration.

Both countries are committed to non-proliferation objectives and agree to expand their partnership on related issues.

The two sides agreed to strengthen their cooperation in the WTO, the declaration said, showing that both countries support the establishment of an open, fair, equitable, transparent and rule-based multilateral trading system, as well as early resumption of Doha negotiations.

China and India are determined to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, according to the declaration.

In the declaration, the two countries also agreed to expand their partnership within regional organizations and explore new possibilities for closer regional cooperation in Asia as well as consenting to work together closely in the East Asia Summit, the declaration said.

The Indian side stated that India was among the first countries to recognize that there is one China. The country said that its one China policy remained unaltered.

This is the first visit to India by a Chinese head of state in 10 years. And India is the third leg of Hu's four-nation tour, which has already taken him to Vietnam and Laos, and will also take him to Pakistan.

(Xinhua News Agency November 22, 2006)