Chinese vice premier meets India's FM

Vice Premier Li Keqiang(R) on Wednesday met with India's External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday met with India's External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing and pledged to boost pragmatic cooperation between the two nations.

A sound relationship between China and India is in the fundamental interests of the people of the two nations, Li said, adding there is much more cooperation than competition between the two largest developing countries.

China and India enjoy important opportunities to develop their bilateral ties as the world is witnessing profound changes and the rise of Asia, said the Chinese vice premier.

The Chinese side is willing to work together with India to maintain strategic communication, improve political mutual trust, and appropriately address disputes and safeguard the peace and tranquility in border areas to advance the bilateral relationship to a new phase.

"It is an important cornerstone for the development of China-India relations to deepen pragmatic cooperation to achieve win-win reciprocity," Li said, adding that the two sides should create favorable conditions for bilateral trade and investment and improve cooperation on infrastructure and information technology.

During their meeting, Li also urged the two sides to boost cultural and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation within multilateral frameworks to counter global challenges including the ongoing financial crisis, climate change, energy and food security and safeguard the common interests of all developing countries.

For his part, the visiting Indian foreign minister said the India-China relationship is one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world and the Indian side is willing to improve mutual trust and friendship with China to facilitate the countries' cooperation on trade and investment.