We can develop together: China tells India

India Gazette (IANS) Wednesday 8th February, 2012

Voicing satisfaction at the progress in Sino-Indian relations, China Wednesday said there was enough space and opportunity for the people of both countries to develop together.

Welcoming External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna here, Zhou Yongkong, a senior politburo member of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said the bilateral relationship has made good progress.

"We are satisfied with the progress," he said at the meeting at Beijing's Great Hall of the People.

"There is enough opportunity and space for the development for the 2.5 billion people of China and India combined," said Zhou, China's ninth-highest ranked politician.

"I think it's fair to say that with the full commitment of leaders of both countries, we have traditionally enjoyed a good relationship," he said.

Zhou recalled his visit to India in 2010 when he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and senior political leaders.

Krishna began a three-day visit to China Tuesday night. He is expected to have wide-ranging talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

He will also meet Wang Jiarui, a senior official of the international department of the CPC, followed by a meeting with State Councillor Dai Bingguo, China's special representative for border talks with India.

Dai visited New Delhi last month to hold the 15th round of India-China border talks with National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon.

After the talks, the two sides signed a mechanism to maintain peace on their border.