India, China will be friends, not rivals: Manmohan Singh
By IANSThursday, December 16, 2010
NEW DELHI - India and China will usher in the Asian century as friends, not rivals, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here Thursday.
India, China cooperation will be the keystone of the Asian century that is unfolding before us, the prime minister said at the closing ceremony of the Festival of China in India, to mark the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
In the development of this century, India and China will mark it as friends, not as rivals, he added, stating: There is enough space in the world for both India and China to grow and fulfil development aspirations of their respective people.
He urged that both countries should work towards bridging the information gap between the two nations.
We must close the information gap between us and learn about each other’s achievement, directly rather than through third countries, he said.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who attended the ceremony, also called for heart-to-heart exchanges between the two populous nations.
