Berlin, June 07: Describing China as India`s "greatest neighbour", Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh today said
New Delhi wanted the "strongest relationship"
with Beijing and would do "everything possible" to cement the
ties as he met
President Hu Jintao here. During their 30-minute
meeting here on the
sidelines of G-8 Summit, Hu hailed Singh`s "insight and vision", saying it had
helped
bilateral relations in "most impressive way". Meeting for the
second time in seven months, the two leaders reviewed the status of bilateral
ties, particularly progress on implementation of 10-point strategy agreed upon
last November to boost the relations. "Our government and people,
regardless of their political affiliations, want strongest relationship with
China," Manmohan Singh
told Hu. He told Hu that India considers China as
"our greatest neighbour" and "it will be our endeavour to do everything possible
to cement our relationship". Referring to the 10-point strategy firmed
up during Hu`s
visit to India in November last, Manmohan Singh said its
implementation is going on very well. The two neighbours had decided to
venture on the strategy to boost their comprehensive ties in commercial,
political and strategic areas. As part of the programme, the world`s two
fastest growing economies agreed to enhance two-way investments to achieve the
bilateral trade target of 40 billion US dollars (approx Rs 1,80,000 crore) by
2010, double than the present level. The meeting assumes significance as
it comes close on the heels of a renewed row over Chinese claim on Arunachal
Pradesh. Beijing recently denied Visa to an IAS officer from Arunachal
Pradesh on the grounds that China considers the state as its territory, creating
an unease in New Delhi. The IAS officer was part of a 107-member
delegation of civil servants going to China for a mid-service training
programme. Talking about India`s endeavour to build bilateral relations,
Singh told Hu that a 100-member youth delegation led by Youth and Sports
Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar was visiting China to learn about the transformation
in society and economy of that country. Recalling his visit to India,
the Chinese President praised the hospitality he received for which he thanked
the Prime Minister. During Hu`s visit to New Delhi, the two countries
had agreed to boost their relations as they signed 15 pacts. National
Security Adviser M K Narayanan and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon were
present in the meeting.
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