Strong India-China ties will lead to long-term peace: PM

NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday said a “strong partnership between India and China will contribute to long term peace and security in Asia” as he began talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao here.

Rapid economic growth had opened up new opportunities for cooperation, Manmohan Singh said in his opening remarks before the delegation level talks between the two sides.

The prime minister underlined that he had met Chinese leaders, including Wen and President Hu Jintao, 20 times in the last five years. This, he said, showed the “intensity of contacts” between the two countries.