India, China must carry forward bilateral ties, says Chinese President Xi Jinping
New Delhi: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday expressed the hope that China and India will take their strategic and cooperative partnership to a higher plane.
He said he had come to India with three goals which were aimed at strengthening the bilateral ties and building strong complementarity in the two economies.
"We plan to partner with each other to take our strategic and cooperative partnership of peace and prosperity to a higher plane," Xi said after being accorded a ceremonial reception at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The Chinese leader, who arrived here last night from Ahmedabad where Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a dinner for him, said the first purpose of his visit is to carry forward the friendship between the two countries.
"China and India are both ancient civilisations with thousands of years of friendly interaction with each other. We also admire and respect each others' civilisation. It is important that we translate the friendly contacts and make sure that we will follow what we promise each other," Xi, who was flanked by President Pranab Mukherjee and Modi, told reporters..
Delhi: Chinese President Xi Jinping receives a guard of honor at the President House pic.twitter.com/ttGm26Tsto
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 18, 2014Speaking to the media after the ceremony, Xi said China will focus on three major goals.1st goal is to carry fwd our friendship. We admire & respect each other’s civilization, important we deepen our mutual respect: Xi Jinping
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 18, 2014We have common development goals, its important we deepen the alignment of our development strategies: Chinese President Xi Jinping
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 18, 2014India and China can create opportunities for the world. We need to take our strategic partnership to higher levels: Chinese Prez Xi Jinping
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 18, 2014When leaders of important countries meet at summit level these are occasions to discuss issues of substance: Syed Akbaruddin, MEA
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 18, 2014After the reception, President Xi will visit Rajghat paid homage at the memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.
Delhi: Chinese President Xi Jinping at Rajghat pic.twitter.com/BYGgF8ZC8e
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 18, 2014India and China will hold delegation-level talks here today with the objective of expanding bilateral cooperation and strengthening ties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to discuss important regional and international issues during the talks.
President Xi Jinping met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi on Thursday.
The External Affairs Minister welcomed the Chinese President by saying, "Ge xia, wo hen huanying nin dao yindu lai - I extend a very warm welcome to you in India.".
Delhi: Chinese President Xi Jinping meets EAM Sushma Swaraj pic.twitter.com/ehrdXMd4oy
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 18, 2014It is expected that the talks will be focused on boosting trade and investments, besides a discussion on substantive issues, including the unresolved boundary question.
It is being reported that China is keen to invest its money in upgrading India's railway infrastructure, industrial parks, power generation and smart cities.
India on the other hand will be keen to seek market access in China for its IT and pharma companies and attract Chinese investment to reduce its mounting trade deficit.
Both sides are also expected to discuss cooperation in civil nuclear energy.
President Jinping and his delegation were in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, where they met with Gujarat Governor O.P. Kohli, Prime Minister Modi, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and her senior cabinet colleagues.
President Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a one-to-one discussion at the Hyatt Hotel in Ahmedabad after which both sides inked three memoranda of understanding.
The first MoU relates to the setting up of an industrial park in Gujarat. The second MoU is between China's Guangdong Province and the Gujarat Government for development of cultural and social ties.
The third MoU was between Guangzhou city of China and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation to make the two sister cities.
Prime Minister Modi hosted a private dinner for the visiting dignitaries at the picturesque Sabarmati river front.
