China, India express willingness to deepen and broaden bilateral cooperation

MUNICH, Feb. 7 -- China and India are willing to deepen bilateral cooperation and collaborate in protecting common interests, said top officials from the two countries in Munich on Saturday.

The positive interaction between China and India is increasing and their momentum of cooperation is improving, said Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi when meeting Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval on the sidelines of the ongoing 51th Munich Security Conference.

Both sides should seize the opportunities, remove the disturbances, and strengthen the positive trend of China-India relations, Yang said.

He added that China and India should increase high-level exchanges, improve political mutual trust and consolidate the foundation of bilateral relations.

Cooperation, including those in culture, railway and industrial parks construction, should be broadened, Yang said.

The official proposed to respect and look after each other's concerns, to push forward negotiations over boundaries, and to effectively maintain the peace and safety of border areas.

Yang also said China and India should enhance cooperation in international affairs, promoting multipolarism and protecting common interests of developing countries.

Doval, for his part, said the bilateral relations between India and China have improved since the new Indian government was formed. As the two fastest growing developing countries in the world and Asian fellows, India and China face a number of mutually beneficial cooperation opportunities.

India is willing to enhance cooperation with China in various areas, to jointly boost economic sustainable growth, as well as to maintain peace and stability of the region, Doval said, adding that his country expected to intensify coordination with China and keep pushing forward the process of negotiations over boundaries.