Li: Linkage of markets crucial for India-China
May 16, 2013, 7:08 am

The Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrives in India on May 19 [Getty Images]

The premier said the linking of the markets of the two countries will benefit Asia immensely.

“The linkage of the Chinese and Indian civilisations and their markets, the harmonious coexistence of the two countries, their mutual respect for each other’s concerns will bring tangible benefits to people in both countries and provide strong impetus for development and prosperity in Asia and the world,” Li said.

He was addressing a 100 member Indian youth delegation in Beijing headed by officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of India on Wednesday.

The Chinese premier arrives in India on May 19 and has said that his decision to make India the destination of his first overseas visit was “carefully thought out”.

Li said China and India are natural partners and close neighbours.

China is India’s second largest trading partner and the nations have set a trade target of $100 billion by 2015.

Manmohan Singh, India’s prime minister noted earlier this month that in 2012 China, India together accounted for 45 per cent of world growth in purchasing power parity.

Both China and India have been vocal proponents of a multi-polar world, Li urged.

Li stressed on the youth of the nations to take an in-depth view of the significance of the China-India relationship and to participate in the bilateral friendly cooperation.

India’s external affairs minister Salman Khurshid was in Beijing last week and discussed bilateral trade, investment and the recent border tensions among others with his Chinese counterpart.

Returning to New Delhi from his Beijing visit, the minister addressed a press conference saying that India and China are working on a new border defence co-operation agreement, adding that China has made suggestions on border protocol.

The BRICS Post