The Hindu : National : India-China relations set to scale new heights in 2006

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Friday, Dec 09, 2005

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India-China relations set to scale new heights in 2006

Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI: Visits by Chinese President Hu Jintao to India and by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to China are in the works for 2006, diplomatic sources have told The Hindu. Already, the two sides have designated 2006 as the "year of India-China friendship" and these visits will be part of the year-long celebrations.

The sources said the details of these visits were being discussed through diplomatic channels. The idea was to have Mr. Hu come to India in the first half of 2006 and Dr. Singh travel to China in the latter half of the year.

If 2005 marked the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and China, during which there were a number of commemorative activities, a large number of visits and programmes are planned for 2006.

Pointing to the all-round improvement in bilateral ties, the sources said two-way trade between India and China was likely to touch $19 billion in 2005. This would make China India's second largest trading partner.

Trade targets

It would appear that India-China trade is moving faster than the targets set by the two sides during Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to India in April this year. A joint statement issued by Mr. Wen and Dr. Singh said on April 11, "The two sides stressed that an all-round expansion of India-China economic cooperation, including trade and investment, constitutes an important dimension of a stronger India-China relationship. The two countries agreed to make joint efforts to increase the bilateral trade volume to $20 billion or higher by 2008."

India and China consented to establish a Strategic and Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity during Mr. Wen's trip to India.

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