Amid reports that China and India will hold their first joint
military exercise next month, the two countries yesterday
reiterated they were ready to take their strategic cooperative
partnership to a "new level".
As Premier Wen Jiabao met with Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the East Asian Summit, Indian
Defense Ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar said about 100 troops each
from both the countries will take part in the military drill.
"The joint exercise, to be held in southwest China's Yunnan
Province, will focus on counter-terrorism measures," the Australian
Associated Press quoted Kar as having said yesterday. "This is
important to boost bilateral ties."
At their meeting, Wen and Singh agreed to strengthen cooperation
in energy security and fighting climate change, and vowed to
resolve the boundary issue through "mutually acceptable" means.
"The long-term friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation for
common development between China and India will profoundly
influence the look of Asia and the world at large," Wen said.
"It has been proved that the China-India friendly and
cooperative relationship has benefited the two peoples and promoted
peace, south-south cooperation and world development."
Corroborating the premier, Singh said India-China ties are
beyond and above bilateral matters. They are related to peace,
stability and prosperity in the region and the world beyond. "India
and China are not rivals, but friends and partners."
On the border issue, Wen said: "We are glad to see that both
sides have sincerity and determination to resolve it."
Arduous efforts are needed to solve the pending issue through
consultations and mutual understanding and concessions, he
said.
The Indian government, Singh said, is politically determined to
resolve the boundary issue. India will work with China to overcome
the obstacles and push forward the negotiations.
China and India have held 11 rounds of talks on the boundary
issue, which Wen described as being "pragmatic and effective".
(China Daily November 22, 2007)
