China, India Sign Declaration on Bilateral Ties

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, June 24, 2003

China, India Sign Declaration on Bilateral Ties

China and India signed their historic Declaration on Principles for Relations and Comprehensive Co-operation Monday in Beijing, along with nine documents on co-operation in economics, law, science and technology and culture.

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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and visiting Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee signed a declaration on principles for relations and comprehensive cooperation between China and India Monday.

The declaration established the goals and guiding principles for bilateral relations and outlined the cooperation of the two countries in various fields. It indicates that bilateral relationship has entered a new stage.

The Indian government has for the fist time recognized, in an explicit way, Tibet Autonomous Region as part of China's territory, according to an official with the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The declaration proposed four principles that China and India would abide by for the promotion of a long-term constructive and cooperative partnership, and on this basis, the installation of a "qualitatively new relationship."

The four principles are:

-- Both sides are committed to developing their long-term constructive and cooperative partnership on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, mutual respect and sensitivity for each other's concerns and equality;

-- As two major developing countries, China and India have a broad mutual interest in the maintenance of peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and the world, and a mutual desire in developing wider and closer cooperation and understanding in regional and international affairs;

-- The common interests of the two sides outweigh their differences. The two countries are not a threat to each other. Neither side shall use or threaten to use force against the other; and

-- Both sides agree to qualitatively enhancing the bilateral relationship at all levels and in all areas while addressing differences through peaceful means in a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable manner. The differences should not be allowed to affect the overall development of bilateral relations.

The declaration says that friendship and cooperation between the two countries "meets the need to promote the socioeconomic development and prosperity of both China and India, maintain peace and stability regionally and globally, strengthen multipolarity at the international level, and enhance the positive factors of globalization."

The two sides agreed that China and India have a mutual desire for good neighborly relations and have broad common interests. They agreed to fully utilize the substantial potential and opportunities for deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, the document said.

Both sides agreed to hold regular high-level exchanges between the two countries, welcomed the positive momentum of bilateral trade and economic cooperation in recent years and shared the belief that continued expansion and intensification of China-India economic cooperation is essential for strengthening bilateral relations, according to declaration.

The two sides will set up a compact Joint Study Group (JSG) composed of officials and economists to examine the potential complementarities between the two countries in expanded trade and economic cooperation, it says.

The JSG would also draw up a program for the development of China-India trade and economic cooperation for the next five years, aimed at encouraging greater cooperation between the business communities of both sides, according to the document.

The two countries will launch a financial dialogue and cooperation mechanism to strengthen their dialogue and coordination in this sector, it said.

The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation at the World Trade organization, which is not only to mutual benefit but also in the broader interest of developing countries, the declaration said, adding that the two sides will hold dialogues on a regular basis in this regard.

The two sides also signed nine documents on cooperation in economy, law and justice, science and technology, and culture.

The documents include:

-- Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation Between the Supreme People's Procuratorate of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Law and Justice of the Government of the Republic of India;

-- Executive Programme on Educational Cooperation and Exchange Between the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Human Resource Development of the Government of India;

-- Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Exporting Mangoes from India to China Between the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture of India;

-- Memorandum of Understanding on Simplifying Visa Procedures Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of India;

-- Memorandum of Understanding For Enhanced Cooperation in the Field of Renewable Energy Between the Ministry of Water Resources, the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources, the Government of the Republic of India;

-- Memorandum of Understanding of Cooperation in the Field of Ocean Science and Technology Between the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) of the People's Republic of China and the Department of Ocean Development of the Government of the Republic of India;

-- Memorandum of Understanding Between the National Science Foundation of the People's Republic of China and the Department of Science and Technology of the Republic of India;

-- Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of India on the Reciprocal Establishment of Cultural Centres in their Capitals

-- Executive Programme of the Cultural Agreement Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of India for 2003-2005.

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