President Hu Jintao's visit to India will pave the way for improved relations and increased trade between the two countries, experts say.

"This visit to which both countries have attached great importance will promote a long term and constructive partnership between China and India by adopting more mature and pragmatic approaches." Sun Shihai, deputy director of the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences told China Daily.

A sound, long-term and stable neighbourly relationship not only serves the fundamental interests of the two countries but will also have a positive and long-term influence on regional and world peace and stability, according to Sun.

"They are expected to sign an agreement on protecting trade and investment, which is believed to be encouragement to investors from both sides," said Sun.

"Through in-depth talks on bilateral ties and major international and regional issues of common concern, the visit will undoubtedly further mutual understanding and trust between the two countries and inject new vigour into ties," he added.

Sino-Indian relations have seen ups and downs over the past decades, but according to Liu Jian, a South Asia researcher with the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, currently ties are on an upward curve: "Thanks to efforts made by both sides over the past few years, great strides have been made in improving bilateral relations."

According to Liu, bilateral trade and investment are booming, with total volume expected to exceed US$20 billion this year. Outstanding developments have been achieved in co-operation in steel and iron, telecommunications and IT sectors. The two nations are also considering co-operating in energy and discussing the concept of a Free Trade Area.

There is still considerable room for growth in bilateral economic trade, Liu added, saying that the convergence of strategic objectives and interests has served as a catalyst for bringing the two nations closer.

"As the two potential power houses of Asia, both have massive populations with correspondingly massive needs for resources, particularly land, water and energy. Competition between the two is inevitable," said Liu.

Development is as much about a nation's ability to learn from the success of others as its willingness to learn. Experts believe that a constructive Sino-Indian partnership will conform more to their respective political and security interests than a relationship as rivals.

(China Daily 11/21/2006 page2)