Sino-Indian ties are heading in a right direction with the two sides agreeing to work together to address international issues like energy and food crises and climate change, the two Foreign Ministers said in Beijing on Friday.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi picked up the thread from their discussions on Thursday, on the sidelines of a dinner hosted by Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao at her residence.
"I think the relationship is heading in the right direction", Yang told media-persons after the meeting, a perception Mukherjee also shared.
Mukherjee said he had a wide range of discussions on bilateral relations. "We shared our perceptions on many international issues including the energy crisis, food crisis and climate change.We decided to work together not only to improve our bilateral relations but also to address these problems faced by the international community with a common collective approach as far as possible."
Yang described Mukherjee's visit as important and said the talks he had with his Indian counterpart were excellent.
"I myself had excellent talks with the Foreign Minister Mukherjee and we have covered much ground not only on bilateral relations but also the international situation as well," Yang said.
Yang said "we believe that we should continue to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries".
Yang also said that in the international affairs, the two countries had cooperated "across the board".
Asked about the early meeting of the Special Representatives on the boundary issue, Yang said "I think the prospect is a good one".
Mukherjee said "I share what my counterpart just told you that it was a good visit. I am satisfied."
Yang also took note of the thriving bilateral trade between the two countries, saying "we have overfilled the task of letting our bilateral trade help reach the target of US $ 60 billion by 2010".
