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India PM visits China for summit India PM visits China for summit
(about 20 hours later)
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has arrived in China for a three-day visit aimed at improving the strained relations between the two countries. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has begun a three-day official visit to China aimed at improving the strained relations between the two countries.
Mr Singh will meet President Hu Jintao as well as Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and the Communist Party's second highest leader, Wu Bangguo. He told the Chinese state news agency on arrival that ties between the states had acquired global significance.
Their talks are expected to focus on territorial disputes and increasing bilateral trade, worth $37bn (£18.9bn). Mr Singh will hold talks with President Hu Jintao, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and China's top legislator, Wu Bangguo.
Their discussions are expected to focus on territorial disputes and increasing bilateral trade, worth $37bn (£18.9bn).
In December, the powerful states held a landmark joint military exercise.In December, the powerful states held a landmark joint military exercise.
The war games in the south-western Chinese province of Yunnan, the first of their kind between the two largest armies in the world, involved just over 100 soldiers from each side.The war games in the south-western Chinese province of Yunnan, the first of their kind between the two largest armies in the world, involved just over 100 soldiers from each side.
Military ties between the countries have been tense since a brief but bloody border war in 1962.Military ties between the countries have been tense since a brief but bloody border war in 1962.
Trade discussionsTrade discussions
Mr Singh's trip to China, the first by an Indian prime minister in nearly five years, will see him visit several venues featuring in this year's Olympic Games in Beijing, before he attends talks with Chinese leaders on Monday and Tuesday. After arriving in Beijing on Sunday, Mr Singh began his visit by touring several venues featuring in this year's Olympic Games.
It's going to be a major business event... bilateral trade has registered impressive growth Shiv Shankar MenonIndian Foreign Minister class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7183830.stm">Aiming low at summit Whilst viewing an exhibition hall for the event, he said the capital's preparations had been a "source of inspiration for India" and that some of the venues were "breathtaking".
The visit comes at a time when trade between India and China is booming and officials said the bilateral talks are expected to focus on surpassing the $40bn target the two countries agreed to reach by 2010. India-China relations have today transcended their bilateral dimension and have acquired global and strategic significance Manmohan SinghIndian Prime Minister class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7183830.stm">Aiming low at summit
The Indian prime minister also had warm words to say about relations between his country and China.
"I am going with an open mind to hold free and frank discussions on all issues of common interests with a view to shaping a relationship that befits our two countries and our future generations," he told the Xinhua news agency.
"India-China relations have today transcended their bilateral dimension and have acquired global and strategic significance."
Mr Singh's visit, the first by an Indian premier in nearly five years, comes at a time when trade between India and China is booming and the upcoming talks are expected to focus on surpassing the $40bn target they agreed to reach by 2010.
The Himalayan pass of Nathu La re-opened after 44 years in 2006
"It's going to be a major business event... bilateral trade has registered impressive growth," Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon told reporters before the delegation left Delhi."It's going to be a major business event... bilateral trade has registered impressive growth," Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon told reporters before the delegation left Delhi.
"We would like to sell much more to China and hence we set up the joint study group, because in the last few years, trade shifted in China's favour and we are hoping to change that," he added."We would like to sell much more to China and hence we set up the joint study group, because in the last few years, trade shifted in China's favour and we are hoping to change that," he added.
India's trade deficit with China has risen from around $4bn to $9.6bn since 2006, according to the Indian ministry of trade, and could exceed $12bn by the end of the financial year.India's trade deficit with China has risen from around $4bn to $9.6bn since 2006, according to the Indian ministry of trade, and could exceed $12bn by the end of the financial year.
Correspondents say there is strong competition as well as co-operation between the two booming economies, because they are vying for the same markets and natural resources.Correspondents say there is strong competition as well as co-operation between the two booming economies, because they are vying for the same markets and natural resources.
Border disputeBorder dispute
The talks in Beijing are also expected to touch on the unresolved territorial disputes which lay behind the 1962 conflict, but have been the subject of special negotiations since 2003.The talks in Beijing are also expected to touch on the unresolved territorial disputes which lay behind the 1962 conflict, but have been the subject of special negotiations since 2003.
The powerful neighbours held a joint military exercise last yearThe powerful neighbours held a joint military exercise last year
Ahead of his visit to China, Mr Singh said he would discuss "issues relating to the boundary", which are believed to include concerns that Chinese troops have made numerous incursions across the border into India over recent months.Ahead of his visit to China, Mr Singh said he would discuss "issues relating to the boundary", which are believed to include concerns that Chinese troops have made numerous incursions across the border into India over recent months.
India's relations with China have also been complicated by Beijing's strategic alliance with Pakistan, which it has supplied with arms and missile technology.India's relations with China have also been complicated by Beijing's strategic alliance with Pakistan, which it has supplied with arms and missile technology.
China, meanwhile, has expressed concern about India's involvement in the so-called axis of democracy that includes Japan, Australia and the United States.China, meanwhile, has expressed concern about India's involvement in the so-called axis of democracy that includes Japan, Australia and the United States.
The BBC's Daniel Griffiths in Beijing says both Mr Singh and the Chinese leaders he meets will emphasise the positive aspects of their relationship in the coming days.The BBC's Daniel Griffiths in Beijing says both Mr Singh and the Chinese leaders he meets will emphasise the positive aspects of their relationship in the coming days.
But it is going to be a long time before the two Asian giants really trust each other, our correspondent says.But it is going to be a long time before the two Asian giants really trust each other, our correspondent says.