Beiging: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on a two-day visit to Beijing, said after talks with Chinese premier Li Keqiang, “When India and China shake hands, the world notices.”
He said they had agreed that “peace at border is our strategic benchmark … the relationship pursued by India and China with other countries must not become a source of concern to each other.”
The border pact details measures to ensure “the principle of mutual and equal security”, and reaffirms that “neither side shall use its military capability against the other side and that their respective military strengths shall not be used to attack the other side” and “that neither side shall use or threaten to use force against the other side by any means nor seek unilateral superiority.”
A total of nine agreements were signed.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday that Chinese and Indian governments are capable of managing border disputes and he hopes the disputes will not affect overall bilateral relations.
Addressing a press briefing together with visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after their meeting, Li said they both believe the two countries have more common interests than disagreements and the people and governments of the two countries have the ability to manage border disputes.
After the meeting, China and India signed a memorandum of understanding on strengthening cooperation on trans-border rivers, and they agreed to cooperate through an existing mechanism between experts in the two countries.
Li urged the two countries’ special representatives on border issues to maintain communication and discuss a fair and reasonable solution acceptable for both sides.
Li also emphasized that the two sides should faithfully implement relevant agreements and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in border areas.
China and India are among the biggest developing countries and are the most dynamic emerging markets, Li said, adding that China-India ties enjoy great development potential and the bilateral relationship is one of the most important in the 21st century.
Li said that China is willing to work with India to benefit 2.5 billion people and make more efforts for world peace, development and cooperation, adding that the two sides will further increase political trust, promote pragmatic cooperation and strengthen cultural exchanges.
