India-China trade ties will benefit the world: Kalam

New Delhi, Nov 21 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam today said close cooperation between India and China was imperative for the overall betterment of humanity.

''Our joint mission in the area of trade should always lead to higher and more competitive output in terms of trade. This will lead to a more prosperous and better world,'' Dr Kalam said in his speech at the banquet he hosted in honour of his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao.

In his brief address, the President said positive trends in India-China relations, promoted peace, stability and harmonious development in the region and even beyond.

Recalling that India and China accounted for almost two-thirds of the total world trade before colonisation of the two countries around 1750 AD, he indicated that the size of their population warranted the restoration of the trade volume to this level.

''With a population of one-third of humanity that is constantly moving forward, what happens in India and China concerns the whole world,'' he said.

He said India was looking at China's rapid development with deep interest and appreciation. ''As a large developing country, endeavouring to seek inclusive development for its people, India faces many of the challenges that China also does.'' As the two countries marched forward towards progress and prosperity, close coopepration between them ''is imperative for the overall betterment of humanity,'' he said.

He said he was confident that as India and China developed and their peoples prospered, their cooperation and exchanges would achieve even greater substance and sustenance.

The pace at which India-China relations had recently grown across a comprehensive spectrum testified this. ''We are confident that your visit will impart significant momentum to this positive process.'' The regional and global perspective of bilateral ties further necessitated that the two countries took a long-term and strategic view of their relationship.

''We need to add more substance and meaning to our strategic relationship.'' Referring to his pet subject, technology, Dr Kalam said convergences of technologies was taking place at a fast pace and the two countries could work together in this area.

Information and communication technology had converged into ICT.

IT had also combined with biotechnology and converged into bio-informatics. ''When bio-informatics will combine with nanotechnology, we can make great progress towards a disease free, happy and more intelligent human habitat,'' the President said.

UNI SN MSJ DB2016