Singh, Hu decide to further strategic partnership

Ajay Kaul

Brasilia, Apr 15 (PTI) Observing that India-China
cooperation was important for peace and stability in the
region and beyond, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President
Hu Jintao Thursday decided to push further their strategic
partnership and agreed to give greater market access to each
others products to boost trade.

At the talks between Singh and Hu here, there was no
reference to contentious issues like China giving stapled
visas to Kashmiris and participating in developmental projects
in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, with the spokesman saying such
matters were taken up by India's External Affairs Minister S M
Krishna when he travelled to Beijing from April 5 to 8.
The two sides agreed that the Special Representatives
would meet as early as possible to discuss the boundary
question, pending whose resolution the two countries would
maintain peace and tranquillity along the border.
The Indian Prime Minister introduced to the Chinese
President National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, who was
nominated as the new Special Representative of India about
three weeks back, succeeding M K Narayanan.
During the 45-minute meeting, it was emphasised that
India and China were not competitors but partners, External
Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash told reporters.
Hu said he agreed with Singh's remarks that the world
was large enough to accommodate the aspirations of both India
and China.
Both sides were of the view that cooperation and
friendship between India and China would be a "win-win"
situation and beneficial for peace, stability and prosperity
of the region and world at large, Prakash said while giving
details of the conversation.
The two leaders noted that the Strategic and
Cooperative Partnership between the two countries had gained
in strength.
The Prime Minister said India was fully committed to
taking it forward, Prakash said. Hu responded by expressing
the similar desire. PTI AKK