Singh boosts India-China ties
Tuesday, 15 Jan 2008 09:38
Manmohan Singh talked up India-China ties in his Beijing speech
China and India are set to strengthen their trade ties by 50 per cent in the next two years, it has been announced.
Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh said bilateral trade would increase from $40 billion (£20.4 billion) now to $60 billion (£30.6 billion) by 2010 on his visit to Beijing yesterday.
In a speech to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences today Mr Singh widened his diplomatic offensive with China, covering a number of areas where cooperation is possible.
"It is natural that major powers, bound together by economic interdependence, will seek to cooperate with each other to mutual benefit. India and China must be part of this cooperative framework," he said.
On climate change the two countries will work closely together to ensure post-Bali negotiations "take into account historical emissions", while civilian nuclear cooperation is also expected as a US-India deal continues to falter.
Security tensions are also set to be eased. A second joint military exercise is planned while efforts to restart 2005 negotiations resolving a 1962 border dispute involving Himalayan territory will be made.
Mr Singh was keen to play up the positive influence an alliance between their two countries could have on world politics.
"When countries of the size of China and India, together accounting for 2.5 billion people begin to unshackle their creative energies, it is bound to impact the whole world. The world knows it and is watching with great interest," he added.
Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabao yesterday said the two countries must be "partners, not rivals".