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Friendly Ties Beneficial to China, India: Premier Zhu
Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said Tuesday that Sino-Indian friendship is in the fundamental interests of the people of both countries.
As the world's two largest developing countries, both China and India are endeavoring to develop their economies and improve people's living standards, and, therefore, they need a peaceful and stable environment, Zhu said in a meeting with Najma Heptulla, president of the Council of the Inter-parliamentary Union.
"The need for promoting Sino-Indian cooperation far overweighs the existing differences between us," Zhu told Heptulla, who is also deputy chairperson of the Upper House of the Indian Parliament.
Heptulla is leading an Indian delegation consisting of parliamentarians of various party affiliations, entrepreneurs and trade union members on a visit here.
Zhu said Sino-Indian relations have recently witnessed marked improvement and development.
During Indian President Kocheril Raman Narayanan's China visit last year, Chinese President Jiang Zemin and the Indian President reached consensuses on a number of issues during their fruitful talks, he said.
The visit paid by Li Peng, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, to India last January pulled bilateral ties even closer, he said.
Heptulla's visit demonstrated the prospects of the development of Sino-Indian relations, Zhu said.
Zhu also talked about the importance of furthering economic and trade relations between the two countries, saying that such cooperation is the wish of the two countries' people and also meets the needs of both countries in developing their relations.
China is willing to join efforts with India to fulfill this goal, Zhu said.
Heptulla said there exists great potential for business and trade cooperation between the two countries even though many achievements have already been made in the field.
She told Zhu that India is confident of the development prospects of India-China friendly relations.
Members of the delegation also expressed hope that the two countries would increase exchanges and cooperation in all areas and enhance coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs and make joint efforts to safeguard the interests of developing countries.
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