China-India cooperation will lead Asia to a new century of
peace, stability and prosperity, according to Liu Jingqin, vice
president of Chinese People's Association for Peace and
Disarmament, speaking in New Delhi yesterday.
China and India's rapid economic growth will support the
sustainable and steady economic growth of Asia in general, Liu said
at the Seminar on China-India Relations, one of the activities
organized to commemorate the "China-India Friendship Year."
Both China and India have reported remarkable economic growth in
the past few years, which has helped make Asia the most active
economic zone in the world, Liu said.
India has maintained an annual economic growth of 5.5 percent
while China has reported 8-9 percent growth over the past two
decades.
Liu added that there is great potential for economic cooperation
between China and India, and that working together instead of
competing with each other would be mutually beneficial.
The value of bilateral trade was US$18 billion last year, a
year-on-year increase of 32.4 percent.
To boost efforts to improve mutual trust and political
cooperation, China and India decided to establish a strategic
comprehensive partnership for peace and prosperity during Premier
Wen
Jiabao's visit to India last April.
The two should improve cooperation in international and regional
issues such as fighting terrorism, coping with environmental
problems and protecting the rights of developing countries, Liu
added.
(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2006)