Chinese Premier
Zhu
Rongji arrived in New Delhi Sunday afternoon for a five-day
official visit to India.
Zhu, who just concluded a two-day official visit to Bangladesh, has
come at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee. This is the first visit to India by a Chinese premier in
11 years.
Indian Minister of State for Defense Harim Pathak and other senior
Indian officials were at the airport to welcome Zhu and his
entourage.
In
a written speech released upon his arrival at the airport, the
Chinese Premier said that he expected to exchange views with Indian
leaders and personages from all walks of life "in a broad and
candid manner" on bilateral relations and other issues of mutual
concern.
He
also expressed confidence that his visit would help further enhance
friendship and exchanges between the two peoples, promote mutual
trust and cooperation between the two countries and "inject new
vitality" for a sound development of the Sino-Indian Constructive
Partnership in the new century.
Conveying to the Indian people "warm greetings and best wishes from
the Chinese people," Zhu pointed to the fact that peoples of both
countries had been close neighbors for thousands of years and
therefore cherished profound friendly emotions for each other.
Both China and India are major countries in Asia and they are also
the world's most populous developing nations, Zhu noted, adding
that it has become the common aspiration of both peoples to learn
from each other and jointly seek development.
"A
sound, stable and friendly Sino-Indian relationship is not only in
the fundamental interest of peoples of both countries, but also
conducive to peace and development in Asia and the rest of the
world," he asserted.
"We are willing to work with the Indian government and people to
continuously push forward Sino-Indian
relations on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful
Co-existence," he stressed.
Zhu Rongji, who is accompanied by his wife Lao An and high-level
officials and entrepreneurs, is expected to stay for two days in
the Indian capital. He will also visit Mumbai and Bangalore, two
major cities in south India.
(China
Daily January 14, 2002)