China and India are partners rather than competitors, linked by
cooperation rather than competition, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao
told an Indian parliamentary delegation in Beijing on Tuesday.
As neighbors and both major developing countries, China and
India shared broad common interests, Wen told the delegation headed
by Somnath Chatterjee, speaker of the House of the People.
The friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between China
and India served the interests of both and would preserve peace and
prosperity in Asia and world, Wen said.
He hailed the strategic cooperative partnership established
between the two countries, saying China would work with India to
seek common development.
"China sincerely hopes for India's development and growing
strong. Only if we two countries become strong, can we talk about
the era of Asia and can we contribute more to human progress," he
said.
"There's no force that can block the development of Sino-Indian
relations, no force that can destroy the friendship between Chinese
and Indian people."
Chinese government statistics show trade between the two nations
is expected to hit US$20 billion this year, two years earlier than
previously anticipated, and exceeded US$18 billion in 2005.
The two countries have held talks to settle border issues.
Chatterjee agreed with Wen, saying the exchange visits by the
two countries' leaders facilitated the development of bilateral
ties.
The advancement of India-China relations was a consensus between
all parties in India, in government and opposition, Chatterjee
said, noting India and China could learn from each other and
enhance cooperation.
The Indian parliament would continue to cooperate with China's
National People's Congress (NPC) and contribute to the development
of the relations.
The Chinese and Indian parliaments on Monday officially launched
regular exchanges, agreeing to hold annual consultations to discuss
issues concerning parliamentary exchanges, according to a
memorandum signed by Chatterjee and Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC
Standing Committee.
(Xinhua News Agency July 5, 2006)
