NEW DELHI -- Chinese President Hu Jintao made a five-point proposal here Wednesday for the further development of Sino-India relations.

China's President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Vice President of India, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, before their meeting in New Delhi November 21, 2006. India and China agreed on Tuesday to boost trade and renew efforts to solve their border dispute, adding there was enough room for the Asian giants to grow together while remaining sensitive to the other's concerns. [Reuters]

Hu made the proposal in a keynote address dubbed "Working Together to Expand Cooperation and Create a Bright Future" at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi during his state visit to India.

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First, President Hu suggested that the two nations increase mutual political trust and consolidate the basis of China-India relations.

"We should continue regular leadership meetings and expand high-level exchanges between the governments, legislatures and political parties to enhance mutual understanding," he said.

Second, the two sides should enhance business cooperation and enrich bilateral relations, Hu said. The two countries should encourage and support cooperation between their business communities in information technology, energy, resources, infrastructure, science, technology and agriculture, so that the two economies could grow at an even greater momentum, the president suggested.

Third, the two countries should increase cultural and social exchanges and public support for China-India friendship, Hu said. He suggested the two sides strengthen cooperation in education and tourism, expand air links, increase media and youth exchanges and forge closer ties between sister cities.

Fourth, Hu said it advisable for China and India to step up friendly consultation and work for an early settlement of the boundary issue. He expressed China's willingness to work with India, guided by the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the overall interests of the two countries, to actively seek a fair, just and mutually acceptable solution toward the issue through friendly consultation on an equal footing.

Fifth, the president hoped the two countries could develop multilateral cooperation and jointly uphold the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.

To China, India is a major partner of cooperation in Asia and the world, Hu said. "We should increase communication and coordination on major international issues to jointly uphold the overall interests of developing countries," he said.

Hu made the proposal in a keynote address dubbed "Working Together to Expand Cooperation and Create a Bright Future" at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi during his state visit to India.

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