India, China must expand shared interests: President Pranab Mukherjee

BEIJING: Ahead of his important discussions with President Xi Jinping and other top Chinese leaders tomorrow, President Pranab Mukherjee today said India and China must expand their shared interests for the good of the world and move forward significantly enhancing their convergences.

Making his maiden visit as the Head of the State, Mukherjee, a veteran of the Indian political system, feels this was necessary not just for the good of the two countries but for the world in general.

"This is the message that I bring on this visit," the President told PTI as he began the Beijing leg of his four-day State Visit to China.

"Experience leads me to believe that our two nations do have the capability to significantly enhance our convergences--and move forward.

"A rising India and rising China must expand their shared interests - not only because it is good for them (but also for the good of the world). This is the message that I bring on this visit," he said.

He was replying to a question on what his experience was on his meetings in China with leaders during the visit that began yesterday in the highly-industrialised province of Guangdong and his interactions with several important personalities.

Mukherjee, 80, who has visited China in various capacities during his long political career including as Foreign Minister, Defence Minister and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, had last night said that the cardinal principle of Indian diplomacy and its relationship with China is expanding areas of agreement and reducing divergence.