China, India have enough wisdom to resolve differences

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Friday that China and India have "enough wisdom" to resolve their differences. "China and India, as strategic partners and friends, have enough wisdom to resolve their differences. Both sides should view the border issue from an overall and strategic perspective," Li said during his meeting with Indian National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon, who was in Beijing to attend the 16th round of border talks between special representatives from China and India. Li called on the two sides to strengthen communication in a bid to narrow their differences on the border issue and work together to safeguard peace and stability in the border area. "I hope the representatives of the two sides could coordinate closely and contribute more effective work to promote new progress in the negotiations," Li added. The Chinese premier also hailed the China-India relationship, calling it one of the most important and vigorous bilateral relationships in the world and noting that the two nations are now facing significant opportunities for developing ties. "China and India both need a peaceful and stable environment for national development," Li said, stressing that bilateral cooperation should be pushed forward, not simply maintained. He said China is willing to make concerted efforts with India to achieve progress in bilateral cooperation and further integrate the two markets in an aim to fuel cooperation in the Asian region and to further growth in the world economy. Acknowledging Li's recent visit to India as a milestone, Menon said India is committed to maintaining high-level exchanges and strategic communication with China, expand bilateral cooperation in various fields and address the border issue through friendly consultations. Established in 2003, the mechanism of China-India special representatives' border talks serves as an important channel for resolving border problems between the two countries.