Premier Zhu Rongji Meets Indian President Narayanan

Chinese Premier Meets with Indian President

Premier Zhu Rongji told visiting Indian President K. R. Narayanan in Beijing Wednesday that the president's current visit to China at the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-India diplomatic relations will help deepen the friendship and relationship of cooperation between the two countries.

During a meeting with Narayanan, who is in the fourth day of his seven-day state visit to China, Zhu said that India is one of the first countries which established diplomatic ties with China and, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which China and India co-pioneered and are widely acknowledged by the international community, have demonstrated their full vitality, and are a remarkable contribution to human civilization and progress.

The Chinese premier noted that exchange and cooperation between China and India in the areas of politics, economy, and culture have been conducted constantly over the past years, and the main course of bilateral relations remains good-neighborly, despite some disputes.

The Chinese government and people highly value their traditional friendship with India, he stressed.

"As the two biggest developing countries, China and India can increase cooperation in international affairs, and make joint efforts to safeguard the rights and interests of the developing countries, as well as help build a just and rational new world order," Zhu said.

In addition, the premier said that China attaches great importance to developing trade and economic cooperation with India.

On the basis of equality and mutual benefit, China and India can learn from each other and seek common development.

China and India should become good partners in trade and economic cooperation, he said, urging the relevant departments of both countries to explore new cooperation potentials.

Narayanan said the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence initiated by the leaders of the two countries have laid a solid foundation for political ties. In the new century, India hopes to expand cooperation in the economic and technological areas, and together with China contribute to the peace and development of mankind.

After Beijing, the president will tour the city of Dalian in northeast China's Liaoning Province, and Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province.