China PM to visit India, says big powers can grow together

Wen Jiabao says he will visit India, stresses there is "enough space in the world" for both nations to prosper

HANOI: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Friday he would visit India later this year, stressing there was "enough space in the world" for both the giant nations to prosper despite a backdrop of frosty ties.

"I will pay a visit to India by the end of this year," Wen said during talks with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of a Southeast Asia summit in the Vietnamese capital.

Border disputes, a short war in 1962 and the presence in India of Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama have all contributed to an atmosphere of suspicion between India and China.

India is also watchful of China's growing presence in the region, including investments in ports in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

But Wen told Singh, according to comments posted on China's foreign ministry website, that the two nations should "steadily ensure friendship" and "increase mutual trust in politics".

"There is enough space in the world for China and India to develop themselves at the same time, and there are enough sectors for China and India to cooperate," he said.

Wen also said China was willing to work with India to "jointly promote continuous increase in trade and investment".

His comments echoed those made by Singh on Wednesday when he said the world was "a large enough place to accommodate the growth and ambitions" of both nations.

On Friday, the Indian premier told Wen there was a "need to show sensitivity to each other's core issues," said national security adviser Shivshankar Menon in comments posted on India's Ministry of External Affairs website.

In a question and answer session with journalists, Menon declined to specify what these "core issues" were.

"We will continue that discussion as we lead up to Premier Wen Jiabao's visit which we are sure will be a very successful and productive visit," he said.

He added that during the 45-minute meeting, "both sides reaffirmed their determination to carry this relationship forward along the positive track that we have maintained for several years."

Both leaders pledged cooperation on a range of global issues, including climate change, counter-terrorism, disaster management, energy security, food security, said Menon.

The Indian official also pointed out that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

On a visit to Japan this week, Singh pledged that India would provide a stable supply of rare earth minerals to Tokyo amid a diplomatic row between China and Japan.

China has built up a near-monopoly on the minerals, which are needed in many hi-tech industries.

India, China and Japan are all members of the East Asia Summit, which is meeting on Saturday.