Chinese FM: Border issue key for Indian ties

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, shakes hands with Indian Minister of External Affairs Salman Khurshid during their talks in New Delhi, India, Nov 10, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

NEW DELHI -- Chinese and Indian foreign ministers have expressed satisfaction over what they called "the Year of Harvest" in bilateral ties this year.

During a meeting on Sunday on the sidelines of the 12th China-Russia-India trilateral meeting in the Indian capital, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Indian counterpart Salman Kharshid reviewed the progress made by the two countries in improving relations over the past year.

Wang said that the intensive interactions at the top level of the two governments have pushed forward Sino-Indian relations into a new stage of development.

He said the two sides should take concrete steps to increase strategic mutual trust to make it a wide consensus among the people of the two countries that China and India are true partners, not rivals.

Wang also suggested that two countries make an all out effort to promote pragmatic cooperation aimed at achieving common development and helping bring about the well being of their people.

The foreign minister said a comprehensive strengthening of exchanges of humanity and culture will be helpful to build a popular consensus to consolidate friendship between the two countries.

Wang proposed that the two countries make it a success the Year of Friendly Exchanges between China and India next year. He said the two countries should commonly mark the 60th anniversary of the birth of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-Existence.

Among other things the two countries can do is the implementation of Bangladesh-China-India Myanmar economic corridor proposal and cooperation in railways and power plants projects, he said.

Wang pointed out that the proper handling of the border issue between the two countries and common implementation of the newly signed Border Defense Cooperation Pact are key for the maintenance of peace and stability in the border areas between the two countries.

He suggested that the two sides strengthen coordination and consultation over international issues to safeguard common interests.

Khurshid said India was encouraged by the progress made in bilateral ties in the past year, adding that the country would actively maintain high level interactions with China and develop trade, establish relations of sisterhood between Indian and Chinese cities, carry out media exchanges, and strengthen friendship between the youths of the two countries.

He said India wishes to properly handle the border issue with China and push forward bilateral ties.