Chinese premier urges stronger trade links with India

%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EChinese%20Premier%20Wen%20Jiabao%20on%20Wednesday%20said%20China%20and%20India%20should%20fully%20tap%20the%20potential%20for%20bilateral%20trade%20and%20boost%20balanced%20trade%20development.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3ECalling%20his%20ongoing%20visit%20to%20India%20a%20journey%20of%20friendship%20and%20cooperation%2C%20Wen%20said%20China%20is%20willing%20to%20cooperate%20with%20India%20to%20expand%20the%20scale%20and%20range%20of%20economic%20and%20trade%20cooperation%2C%20and%20bring%20it%20to%20a%20higher%20level.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EWen%20made%20the%20remarks%20at%20a%20bilateral%20business%20cooperation%20forum%20in%20New%20Delhi%2C%20which%20attracted%20about%20600%20business%20elites%20from%20both%20countries.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EHe%20arrived%20here%20earlier%20Wednesday%20for%20a%20three-day%20official%20visit%20at%20the%20invitation%20of%20his%20Indian%20counterpart%20Manmohan%20Singh.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EWen%20said%20both%20sides%20need%20to%20further%20tap%20the%20potential%20to%20substantially%20increase%20their%20trade%20volume%2C%20and%20promote%20trade%20development%20in%20a%20balanced%20manner%20and%20jointly%20fight%20trade%20protectionism.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EThe%20premier%20called%20for%20efforts%20by%20both%20sides%20to%20create%20a%20favorable%20environment%20for%20mutual%20investment%2C%20implement%20the%20pact%20for%20investment%20promotion%20and%20protection%2C%20ease%20the%20restrictions%20on%20authorization%2C%20on%20capital%20and%20personnel%20flows%2C%20and%20explore%20the%20possibility%20of%20setting%20up%20international%20economic%20and%20trade%20cooperation%20zones%20in%20each%20other%27s%20country%20to%20promote%20bilateral%20trade%20and%20investment.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EThe%20two%20countries%20should%20expand%20cooperation%20in%20such%20areas%20as%20finance%2C%20tourism%2C%20energy%20and%20environmental%20protection%2C%20and%20strength%20exchanges%20in%20science%20and%20technology%2C%20education%2C%20culture%20and%20healthcare%2C%20Wen%20said.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EHe%20added%20that%20they%20should%20also%20promote%20mutual%20understanding%20and%20friendship%20between%20the%20two%20peoples.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EThe%20Chinese%20leader%2C%20meanwhile%2C%20called%20for%20more%20exchanges%20between%20the%20two%20countries%27%20business%20circles%20and%20the%20establishment%20of%20more%20platforms%20for%20such%20interactions.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EHe%20also%20suggested%20that%20the%20chambers%20of%20commerce%20and%20business%20associations%20serve%20as%20a%20bridge%20to%20help%20enterprises%20in%20both%20countries%20know%20more%20about%20and%20explore%20each%20other%27s%20markets.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EThe%2021st%20century%20is%20the%20century%20of%20Asia%2C%20in%20which%20both%20China%20and%20India%20can%20achieve%20a%20lot%2C%20Wen%20said.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EHe%20called%20on%20the%20business%20communities%20of%20both%20countries%20to%20actively%20participate%20in%20bilateral%20economic%20and%20trade%20cooperation%20to%20contribute%20to%20the%20great%20rejuvenation%20of%20the%20two%20ancient%20civilizations.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EWen%27s%20visit%20marks%20the%20first%20to%20India%20by%20a%20Chinese%20premier%20in%20four%20years.%20It%20follows%20Indian%20President%20Pratibha%20Patil%27s%20visit%20to%20China%20in%20May%20--%20the%20first%20by%20an%20Indian%20head%20of%20state%20in%20a%20decade.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EWen%20was%20scheduled%20for%20talks%20with%20Singh%20on%20Thursday%20morning%20on%20bilateral%20ties%20and%20international%20and%20regional%20issues%20of%20common%20concern.%20He%20will%20also%20attend%20events%20marking%20the%2060th%20anniversary%20of%20China-India%20diplomatic%20ties%2C%20and%20meet%20with%20Indian%20people%20from%20various%20circles%2C%20before%20concluding%20his%20tour%20on%20Friday.%3CBR%3E%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E