Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R front)
shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after they jointly
sign relevant documents in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 14，2008.(Xinhua
Photo) Photo
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BEIJING, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- China and
India on Monday signed a joint document of their shared vision of accelerating
bilateral ties and making joint efforts in contributing to world development.
The document was signed by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao
and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was on his first China tour since
he assumed office.
Officials and scholars called the document a
milestone for relations between the two countries.
The seven-page document, "A Shared Vision for the
21st Century of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of India",
covers extensive fields, both bilateral and multilateral. It touches economy,
politics, energy, nuclear, climate change, disarmament, terrorism, religion,
regional trade and integrity, defense and border issue.
China and India "are convinced that it is time to
look to the future in building a relationship of friendship and trust, based on
equality, in which each is sensitive to the concerns and aspirations of the
other," said the document. It reiterates that "China-India friendship and common
development will have a positive influence on the future of the international
system."
The two nations believe their bilateral relationship
in this century will be of significant regional and global influence. They will
therefore continue to build their strategic and cooperative partnership in a
positive way.
Against the backdrop of accelerating regional
economic integration in Asia, the two sides agreed to explore the possibility of
commencing discussions on a mutually beneficial and high-quality Regional
Trading Arrangement (RTA) that meets the common aspirations of both countries,
and will also benefit the region.
China and India will continuously promote
confidence-building measures through steadily enhanced contacts in the field of
defence, said the document.
It said the two sides welcomed the commencement of
the China-India Defence Dialogue and are satisfied with the successful
conclusion of the first joint anti-terrorism training between their armed forces
in December.
On the border issue, the document said the two sides
remained firmly committed to resolving outstanding differences, including on the
boundary question, through peaceful negotiations, and reiterated their
determination to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the
boundary question.
The special representatives of both nations shall
complete at an early date the task of arriving at an agreed framework of
settlement on the basis of this agreement, said the document.
China and India vowed to "bear a significant
historical responsibility to ensure comprehensive, balanced and sustainable
economic and social development of the two countries and to promote peace and
development in Asia and the world as a whole."
In the document, the two countries pledged to support
and encourage the processes of regional integration, welcome the positive facets
of economic globalization and to face and meet its challenges. They advocated to
establish an international energy order that is fair, equitable, secure and
stable, and are committed to making joint efforts to diversify the global energy
mix and enhance the share of clean and renewable energy, according to the
document.
The two sides welcomed the opportunity for their
outstanding scientists to work together in the International Thermonuclear
Experimental Reactor (ITER) project. This is of great potential significance in
meeting the global energy challenge in an environmentally sustainable manner.
