12 April 2005	Tuesday	02 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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NEW DELHI, April 11: India and China on Monday agreed to join hands as strategic partners to shore up peace and prosperity in Asia and beyond, a joint statement signed by the prime ministers of the two countries said. Celebrating a perceptible bonhomie between visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Beijing also formally gave recognition to the Himalayan region of Sikkim as an Indian state.

The two prime ministers exchanged notes on Pakistan, but New Delhi did not raise the standard issue of Beijing’s arms supply to Islamabad during the summit talks, Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran told a news conference. “There was no specific discussion on arms supply to Pakistan. The Chinese premier expressed his support for the talks between India and Pakistan,” he said.

Mr Saran displayed a map of India presented by the Chinese side in which Sikkim was shown as part of India. A formal recognition of the new status for Sikkim was written into the joint declaration.

“In the light of the development of their bilateral relations, in order to promote good neighbourliness, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation and taking into account the profound changes in the regional and international situation, the two sides agreed that India-China relations have now acquired a global and strategic character,” the statement said.

“The leaders of the two countries have, therefore, agreed to establish an India-China strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity.”

The two sides declared 2006 as the “year of India-China friendship”.

The two countries agreed to make joint efforts to increase the bilateral trade volume to US$ 20 billion or higher by 2008.

The prime ministers agreed that broadening and deepening of defence exchanges between the two countries was of vital importance in enhancing mutual trust and understanding between the two armed forces, and to ensuring a peaceful environment in which they could pursue their respective national development objectives. The two sides decided to further strengthen effective contacts and exchanges in this field.

On the India-China boundary question they reiterated their readiness to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution, through equal and friendly consultations and proceeding from the overall interests of bilateral relations. They expressed their commitment to the mechanism of Special Representatives for seeking a political settlement of the boundary question in the context of their long-term interests and the overall bilateral relationship. Pending a final resolution, the two sides will continue to make joint efforts to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas in accordance with the Agreements of 1993 and 1996.

“The Indian side reiterated that it recognized the Tibet Autonomous Region as part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China and that it did not allow Tibetans to engage in anti-China political activities in India,” the agreement said.

But the perhaps most palpable progress came in the form of China’s recognition of Sikkim. The statement said: “Both sides reviewed with satisfaction the implementation of the memorandum on the border trade through the Nathula Pass between the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Sikkim State of the Republic of India.”

They said differences on the boundary question should not be allowed to affect the overall development of bilateral relations.

“The two sides will resolve the boundary question through peaceful and friendly consultations. Neither side shall use or threaten to use force against the other by any means. The final solution of the boundary question will significantly promote good neighbourly and friendly relations between India and China.”