China gets ready to welcome PM Manmohan Singh

[Flintlock]

China gets ready to welcome PM Manmohan Singh
3 Jan 2008, 1545 hrs IST,PTI

SMS NEWS to 58888 for latest updates
BEIJING: China on Thursday said it attached high importance to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's maiden visit to the Communist nation from January 13 to 15 during which the two sides will discuss a host of issues, including finding a "fair and rational" settlement to the vexed boundary problem.

Announcing the long expected visit of Singh, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said China welcomed and attached great importance to it.

She said China hoped the visit would increase friendship between the people of the two nations and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields and promote strategic cooperative partnership in the "long term and in a healthy way".

"We are ready to make joint efforts with India to promote strategic cooperative partnership to a new high", she said, noting the two countries were the biggest developing nations and had the common task for development devoted to regional stability and the world at large.

Asked if any agreements were expected to be signed during Singh's visit at the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Jiang said, "on the specifics, the two sides are still holding discussions and consultations".

On the festering boundary issue, she said the Special Representatives had three meetings last year and had "good, helpful consultations" on the framework.

"We will make joint efforts to find a fair and rational settlement that is acceptable to both countries".