Patil says enough space for India, China to fulfil development aspirations

Beijing, May 28 (ANI): Impressed by China's amazing achievements on many fronts, especially in the post-Cultural Revolution period (1966-1976), visiting Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Friday said there was enough space for both China and India to fulfill their development-related aspirations.

Attending a reception hosted in her honour by the Indian Embassy and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries here, Patil, who is on a six-day visit of China, said: "There is enough space in the world for both the countries to fulfil their aspirations for development."

She also said that the two governments were working together towards strengthening mutual cooperation.

"Even in my short stay, I have been impressed by the amazing achievements of China on many fronts. This only confirms the prevalent belief in India that much can be learnt from experiences of China, which is a similarly placed emerging economy, with similar aspirations. As each of us focus on our national development goals, there is growing scope for cooperation between out two countries.In international arena too, our common interest ans shared concerns provide the basis of working together," Patil said.espite India and China having concerns over the Boundary Question and other bilateral issues, she said, "Mutual awareness about each other and mutual understanding of each other's sensitivities, will hold the key to deeper and sturdier friendship. I am sure that the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries is dedicated to this, to same extent extent that we in India are."

The event was held to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping also attended the reception.

Chinese students also performed a spectacular cultural and dance show on the occasion.

The President, who had meetings with the Chinese leadership over the past two days, described the discussions as "very positive and fruitful."

"There is keenness on the part of both the countries to move forward," she said.

She further said that her discussions with the Chinese leadership have emphasised the "noteworthy progress that cooperation has achieved in recent years and chartered the course for further progress."

She said: "In the age of globalisation and seamless communication," the "vibrant and enterprising" people of the two countries had to be at the centre of bilateral ties.

Patil, the first Indian head of state to visit China in a decade. K.R.Narayanan was the last Indian President to visit China in 2000. (ANI)