BJP for fostering positive ties with China: Rajnath Singh

New Delhi, Oct.17 : Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh on Friday said that his party has always favoured fostering positive ties with China.

Interacting with a 15-member Chinese delegation led by Yu Zhengsheng, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Secretary of CPC Shanghai at the BJP Central Office here, Singh described India and China as two big countries, emerging economies and two great ancient civilizations, and therefore, both of them having mutual good relations would benefit not only them, but also other parts of the world.

He also acknowledged the border dispute between the two countries as a ground reality, and suggested that this issue and others would have to be resolved through dialogue in an atmosphere of mutual confidence.

Lauding China for its exceptional economic progress, Singh said: "We the people of India can also get benefited by the Chinese experiences of phenomenal growth like that of Shanghai."

Singh also said that China should support India on the issue of combatting terrorism effectively in Asia.

Mr. Zhengsheng said that China is focussed on economic issues, especially in the wake of the meltdown in the United States economy.

He said that India is having enormous potential of economic growth, particularly in the field of infrastructure. By virtue of the numerous economic opportunities available in India, India can easily absorb the carried over affects of US economic slow down and can even emerge better, he added.

Both agreed that if India and China are to emerge as developed countries, then mutual confidence and respect should grow. They also agreed that there was a need for greater contact between the BJP and the CPC.

The Ambassador of China to India, Zhang Yan, Political Councilor Ms. Li Liquing were also present at Friday's meeting. S.K. Arora, Vijay Jolly, B.M. Ojha, Anand Verma and Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi represented the BJP at the talks along with Singh.

ANI