India, China are partners, say Manmohan Singh & Hu Jintao

BRASILIA: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese President Hu Jintao on Thursday said that India and China were not competitors but partners as they decided to push further their strategic partnership and agreed to give greater market access to each other's products to boost trade.

Hu, who warmly welcomed Singh here on the sidelines of the India-Brazil-South Africa and Brazil-Russia-India-China Summits, said he agreed with the Prime Minister's remarks that the world was large enough to accommodate the aspirations of both India and China.

During the 45-minute talks, there was no reference to contentious issues like China issuing stapled visas to Kashmiris and participating in developmental projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as these were taken up External Affairs Minister S M Krishna during his recent China visit.

The two sides agreed that the Special Representatives would meet as early as possible to discuss the boundary question, pending whose resolution the two countries would maintain peace and tranquillity along the border.

The Prime Minister introduced to the Chinese President National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, who was nominated as the new Special Representative of India about three weeks back, succeeding M K Narayanan.

Chinese Special Representative for the boundary talks Dai Bingguo was also present at the meeting. The two sides have already held 13 rounds of Special Representative-level talks.

During the meeting, it was emphasised that India and China were not competitors but partners, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash told reporters.

Hu said he agreed with Singh's remarks that the world was large enough to accommodate the aspirations of both India and China.

Both sides were of the view that cooperation and friendship between India and China would be a "win-win" situation and beneficial for peace, stability and prosperity of the region and world at large, Prakash said while giving details of the conversation.
As the two leaders met, Singh told Hu: "It is always a matter of great pleasure to meet you".

He refereed to his earlier meeting with Hu Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and said he has "become wiser" after these interactions.

"We hold you in great regard," Singh told the Chinese leader and conveyed to him greetings from President Pratibha Patil and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

The two leaders noted that the Strategic and Cooperative Partnership between the two countries had gained in strength.

The Prime Minister said India was fully committed to taking it forward, Prakash said. Hu responded by expressing the similar desire.