Indian PM meets with Chinese special representative for border problem

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday met with visiting Chinese Special Representative for Border Problem between China and India and State Councilor Yang Jiechi. Singh said that with great efforts made by leaders of the two countries over the past several years, India and China have achieved tremendous results in developing their relations. The prime minister said that a long-term, stable and developing relationship between the two countries is the continuous choice of India and that the two sides should maintain the momentum for high level exchanges to promote strategic coordination. He adding that he looked forward to the organization of India China Year of Friendly Exchanges this year and commemorative activities for the 60th anniversary of the birth of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence. Singh said the two sides should continue to promote economic and trade cooperation, actively participate in the construction of the Bangladesh-India-China-Myanmar economic corridor and the "Silk Road" economic belt. He expressed appreciation for the active role being played by the meetings of the special representatives for border problem of the countries while expressing his hope that the two sides would seek the framework for solving the border problem through talks and in the meantime maintain stable development of bilateral relations. Singh expressed his hope that India and China would strengthen cooperation in G-20, BRICS countries and other multilateral frameworks to help encourage the global political and economic order to move towards a fairer and more reasonable direction. Yang said that last year is the year of pioneering and harvest for China-India relations, as the leaders of the two countries have built new structures for carrying out strategic cooperation and brought bilateral relations to a new phase of fast development. He said this year is again offering new opportunities for the two sides to develop relations on the basis of the achievements made last year. Yang said China is willing to increase further strategic mutual trust with India and make it a success the "China India Year of Friendly Exchanges". China is also working for strengthening and consolidating pragmatic cooperation, promoting regional economic integration and better connectivities and making joint efforts with India for building the "Silk Road" economic belt to contribute to the stability and development of Asia and the world, he said. Yang said that to inherit and spread the spirit of the five principles of peaceful co-existence has great significance for both countries. He said China and India have already made some achievements in the talks on border problem and the two sides should continue making efforts to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the border problem and to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas between the two countries.