He Luli, vice-chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, Monday said China and India can work together to make greater contributions to the prosperity of the two countries in the coming 21st century.

Addressing the Seventh Indira Gandhi Conference, He Luli, who is also president of the Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament, said China and India, as the two largest developing countries in the world, share similar national conditions and experiences.

Moreover, she said, as both countries are carrying out economic reform, they can exchange experiences and expand mutually beneficial cooperation in many fields such as politics, economy and trade, science and technology, and culture.

Bilateral Exchanges and cooperation in areas like economy and trade and science and technology have been on the increase in recent years, she said. "However, this is not commensurate to the geo-superiority, market capacity, and scientific and technological level of the two countries and the potentials of bilateral trade should be further tapped."

Some problems left over from history between China and India are yet to be ultimately resolved, she said. "However, I am sure that our common interests far outweigh our differences, neither side constitutes any threat to the other."

"We should trust each other and promote mutual cooperation. Stable, normal and friendly Sino-Indian relations will not only be in the fundamental interests of the two peoples, but also be conducive to promoting peace, stability and development in Asia and the world at large," she said.

"In the coming 21st century, on the basis of mutual trust, the peoples of China and India can certainly work together to make greater contributions to the prosperity of the two countries, and the development of world civilization," she said.

He Luli was invited by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust to attend the three-day conference, which is expected to conclude Monday afternoon.

She arrived in New Delhi on November 18 and is scheduled to leave Monday night for home via Singapore.