New page for ties with India
( 2003-06-24 00:19)
China and India signed a declaration Monday that will lay down goals and
guidelines for the two countries' relations and provide a blueprint for
co-operation.
In the declaration, the Indian Government has for the first
time recognized explicitly Tibet Autonomous Region as part of China's territory,
according to an official with the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Premier Wen
Jiabao made the remarks Monday when meeting visiting Indian Prime Minister Atal
Bihari Vajpayee, noting that the document marks a new phase in Sino-Indian
ties.
Vajpayee arrived in Beijing on Sunday, kicking off his six-day official
visit to China to improve ties between the world's two most populous
countries.
It is the first visit by an Indian prime minister in a decade.
Vajpayee, who came to China in 1979 as foreign minister, will also fly to the
ancient city of Luoyang and then Shanghai, China's economic centre.
During
Monday's meeting, Wen said the Chinese Government valued its ties with India and
wished to establish a long-term, stable and sound relationship as friendly
neighbours.
He put forward several suggestions about how to further deepen
co-operation in the new century;
L Extend contacts to enhance trust and
dispel suspicion;
L Co-operate more to raise bilateral trade volume to US$10
billion by 2005;
L Develop links in science, education, culture and
health;
L Work together to safeguard the interests of developing countries,
and promote multipolarization and democracy in international relations.
L
Ensure historical issues do not undermine the healthy development of Sino-Indian
relations, while attaching importance to these issues.
Wen said China does
not regard India's development as a threat, and China's development also poses
no threat to any other country.
Vajpayee said the Indian Government attaches
importance to the development of relations with China and hopes to promote
understanding, trust and co-operation through the visit.
He called on the two
countries to better co-ordinate on international affairs to contribute to world
peace and development.
On the situation in South Asia, Wen said China
welcomes equal treatment and peaceful co-existence among South Asian nations,
adding that China hopes to see tensions ease further between India and
Pakistan.
Wen stressed that China would never pursue its own interests in
South Asia affairs or target any other country when building co-operative ties
with South Asian countries.
Wen said China would continue to promote peace
and development in the region constructively.
Vajpayee said that India hopes
to maintain stability in South Asia and is also willing to promote regional
co-operation.
He also expressed appreciation for the role China had played in
the nuclear issue on the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea.
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