BEIJING, March 18 – China’s new Premier Li Keqiang(Pic) told Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh that enhanced bilateral cooperation would contribute to enlarging scope for development and common interests. Singh had congratulated Li on his endorsement as Chinese premier on the phone on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported.
Li said as the two largest Asian powers and developing countries, China and India are ancient civilisations and emerging economies. By enhancing cooperation, the Chinese premier said both countries can further boost development and work on common interests to facilitate a sustainable economic and social development, as a way to bring the world order and system towards a positive direction.
This will promote better livelihood of more than 2 billion people in both countries which bears a great significance for the whole world, said Li. Li vowed China will always attach great importance to its relations with India and work together to promote strategic cooperation and partnership to a new level.
On his part, Singh said bilateral ties over the past few years have seen significant developments and continuous progress in various fields. The world has enough room for India and China to realise common goals for development, said the Indian prime minister. India is willing to work with China to explore potential for mutually beneficial cooperation and create greater achievements in bilateral ties to set an example for state-to-state relations in the 21st century, Singh added.
Li was endorsed as Chinese premier on Friday at the ongoing session of the 12th National People’s Congress (NPC). About 3,000 NPC deputies voted to approve Li’s nomination by newly-elected President Xi Jinping at the legislative session.
BERNAMA
