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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