Prez talks trade with Hu & Wen

NEW DELHI: INDIA and China on Thursday discussed a wide range of bilateral issues and signed three agreements related to visas, sports and civil

administration.



The agreements were signed after an hour meeting between President Pratibha Patil and her Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao in Beijing.



The two sides covered various bilateral, regional and global issues. Ms Patil's visit comes in the backdrop of efforts to intensify bilateral relationship in the face of contentious issues.



The Chinese president told Ms Patil that her visit would increase "mutual understanding and friendship and advance the development of the China-India strategic partnership," according to Chinese broadcaster CCTV.



Mr Hu further said the two sides should utilise both bilateral and multilateral fora to increase cooperation and coordination. These remarks come in the back drop of close coordination between India and China at the climate change talks in Copenhagen. India and China are also looking at closer coordination on other global issues like reform of the international financial institutions and trade issues.



After the meeting, the two sides signed an agreement on streamlining the visa system for airline staff and two MoUs for cooperation in sports and civil administration.



The President also met Chinese premier Wen Jiabao, who called her visit `significant.' The Chinese premier and Ms Patil discussed bilateral issues including trade and commerce.



India has been taking up the issue of the increasing trade imbalance even as trade has grown. Trade has grown substantially from $1 billion in 2001 to $52 billion in 2008 but so has the trade imbalance. The President's visit has a strong economic content with a visit to the India pavilion at the Shanghai world Expo also on the agenda.



Coinciding with the President's visit, the Cabinet had approved the setting up of an economic wing at the Indian embassy in Beijing.



The President also sought China's support for India's bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council. External affairs minister S M Krishna had also sought China's support for a UNSC seat.



The President's visit to China is part of the continuous high-level exchanges between the two countries where discussions have covered all aspects of the bilateral relationship. Ms Patil's visit also coincides with the 60th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of the Sino-India diplomatic ties
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