India-China resolve to maintain peace on border

Beijing, Jan 14: India and China today firmly resolved to maintain peace and traquility on their border, hold more joint military training exercises and examine the benefits of a regional trading arrangement as Beijing supported New Delhi's aspirations to play a greater role in the United Nations.

These announcements were made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after his marathon talks with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao at the Great Hall of the People. In a statement made to the media after his talks with the Chinese leader, Dr Singh said India and China had welcomed the progress made by the Special Representatives in seeking a framework for settlement of the boundary question that is ''fair, reasonable, mutually acceptable'', and based on the Agreement on Guiding Principles and Political Parameters signed in April 2005.

He also said the two countries had agreed to continue deepening the mutual understanding and trust between the armed forces.

''We welcomed the successful conclusion of our first joint military training exercise, and agreed to hold a second exercise inIndia this year,'' he said.

The Prime Minister said the two countries had also decided to increase bilateral trade target from 40 billion US dollars by the year 2010 to 60 billion US dollars. ''We recognised that our strategic and cooperative partnership should be based on strong, diversified and mutually beneficial economic ties,'' he added.

The Ministers of Commerce had been mandated to examine the Feasibility Study on the benefits of a Regional Trading Arrangement and make recommendations at an early date, Dr Singh said adding a high level Business Leaders Forum would be established to advise the two countries on the future of economic ties.

Dr Singh conveyed the country's appreciation for China's assistance in providing flood season data for some of the trans-border rivers. ''Premier Wen and I agreed that we will continue to expand our cooperation in this area through the Expert Level Mechanism,'' he said.

Recognising Science and Technology as another priority area, the two leaders identified earthquake engineering, disaster management, climate change, biotechnology and nano sciences as areas for further cooperation.

''We have decided to intensify high-level exchanges between our two countries. I have invited Premier Wen to visit India at his convenience,'' Dr Singh said.

Dr Singh, addressing a joint press conference along with Mr Wen, said that while SRs continue their efforts, both sides have reiterated their mutual commitment to maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas. The Chinese Prime Minister also echoed similar sentiments. In another development, the shared vision also decided to explore the possibility of commencing discussions on a mutually beneficial and high-quality RTA(regional trading agreement) that meets the common aspirations of both countries and will also benefit the region.

They also decided to continue confidence building measures through steadily enhanced contacts in the field of defence and have second joint military exercise in India .

The two sides supported the comprehensive reform of United Nations, including giving priority to increasing the representation of developing countries in the Security Council . ''The Indian side reiterates its aspirations for permanent membership of the UN Security Council. The Chinese side also attaches great importance to India's position as a major developing country in international affairs. The Chinese side understands and supports India's aspirations to play a greater role in the UN, including the Security Council,''the joint statement said.

Dr Singh told newspersons that the two sides have decided to establish a high level business leaders forum to advise on the future of the economic ties.

He said they have decided to intensify high-level exchanges between the two countries. He has invited Mr Wen to India. Mr Wen said they have invited Indian President Pratibha Patil to visit China next year.

Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon after the high-level talks told newspersons that both the sides have expressed satisafaction on the border dispute talks, and hoped more rounds would be held to work out the frame work for resolution for reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question.

It was the first time that the two countries have also discussed regional and global issues besides the bilateral ties.

The two sides strongly condemned the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, in all regions of the world.They decided to work together and with the international community to strengthen the global framework against terrorism in long term, sustained and comprehensive manner.

The joint vision reiterates that their friendship and common development will have a positive influence on the future of the international system.'' India and China relations are not targetted at any country,nor will it affect their friendship with other countries.'' The two sides also discussed Taiwan issue and India made its position clear that they have one China policy.

During the talks,according to Mr Menon, Tibet issue came up in a passing way and there was no change in their known position on Tibet.

Dr Singh said the vision statement signed today was a milestone in the evolution of relations between the two countries. ''It reflects not only our common perceptions but also our desire to purposefully cooperate in the future.'' The two sides recognised their strategic and cooperative partnership should be based on strong, diversified and mutually beneficial economic ties. The two countries also decided to increase their bilateral trade target from 40 billion US dollars by the year 2010 to 60 billion US dollars.

They have also mandated their Ministers of Commerce to examine the feasibility study on the benefits of a regional trading arrangement at an early date, Dr Singh and Mr Wen said.

As part of their decision to intensify high-level exchanges between the two countries, India has invited Premier Wen to visit India this year.

Likewise, China has invited President Prathiba Patil to visit China in 2009 while the Chairman of the National People's Congress of China would visit India at a mutually convenient time in 2008.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will visit China in the first half of this year and return visit by the Chinese Foreign Minister would take place in second half of the year.

The two sides decided to hold second India-China defence dialogue this year. On the occasion,eleven MOUs were also signed which included an MOU for cooperation between the Planning Commission of India and National Development and Reform Commission of China, an MOU on cooperation between Ministry of Railways and Railways Ministry of China, an MOU between the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation of India and Ministry of Construction, China, an MOU between the Ministry of Rural Development of India and Ministry of Land Resources of China, an MOU between Indian Council for Cultural Relations and China People's Association for friendship with foreign countries and an MOU on India-China joint medical mission.

Other agreements included an MOU on cooperation between the Geological Survey of India and China geologiocal survey in geo sciences, an MOU between deptt of AYUSH ministry of health and family welfare and state administration of traditional Chinese medicine, an MOU between NABARD and agricultural development bank of China on mutual cooperation and protocol of phytosanitary requirements for the export of tobacco leaves from India to China.

UNI