Li calls for substantial progress in Sino-Indian ties

NEW DELHI - Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang?on Monday called for joint efforts to push for fresh and substantial progress in Sino-Indian cooperation and further consolidate the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity.

Li made the remarks and raised a six-point proposal on furthering bilateral ties when meeting with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh.

Premier Li visits four countries

Firstly, China and India should strengthen strategic communication to increase political mutual trust, said Li.

Secondly, they should advance pragmatic cooperation and deepen convergence of interests.

Thirdly, the two countries should enhance cooperation in defense to increase mutual trust in security affairs, said the Chinese premier.

Fourthly, the two sides should expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges to enhance mutual understanding.

Fifthly, the two Asian neighbors should care for each other's concerns, properly handle sensitive issues, and continue to push forward negotiations on border issues so as to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in border areas.

Sixthly, Li said, the two sides should cement cooperation in international affairs to safeguard their common interests.

During the meeting, Li and Singh also agreed to jointly develop large-scale cooperation projects in such fields as industrial parks and infrastructure, and called for establishing an economic corridor among China, India, Myanmar and Bangladesh so as to push for closer links between the two major markets.

Li arrived in India Sunday afternoon, the first leg of his maiden foreign trip since he became premier in March. He will also visit Pakistan, Switzerland and Germany.