Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c14.s2.t4.10

v2.c14.s2.t4.10

From January 13-15, 2008, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was invited by Wen Jiabao to pay a state visit to China. He met Chinese President Hu Jintao and Wu Bangguo, President of the NPC Standing Committee, respectively and held talks with Wen Jiabao. Both sides reached a common ground on bilateral relations and on international and regional issues of common concern. Both prime ministers attended the founding ceremony of China-India Joint Medical Mission. Prime Minister Singh delivered a speech at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. During his visit, both sides signed *A Shared Vision for the 21ˢᵗ Century between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of India*, pointing out that India and China were two largest developing countries in the world. Both sides recognised that they shouldered the historical responsibility for ensuring comprehensive, balanced and sustainable social and economic development of the two countries and boosting the peace and development of Asia and the world at large. The two sides resolved to boost the building of a world of long lasting peace, common prosperity and harmony. After this visit, India and China witnessed strengthened mutual trust in politics and were able to look at the relations from a historical and broader perspective. Both sides also agreed to further close consultation and coordination in international and regional issues and take joint response to challenges in traditional and non-traditional fields. When it comes to the border issues, India and China agreed to reach a just, rational and feasible solution at an early date from a strategic perspective and the larger picture of bilateral relations and through equal consultation and mutual understanding and mutual accommodation. This visit also increased mutual trust and deepened cooperation between the two countries and exerted positive and far-reaching influence on a long-term development of India-China relations.