India eyes win-win relationship with China

NEW DELHI - Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao says that India looks forward to better understanding China and creating a win-win relationship with the country.

Rao made the remarks at a China-India business conference held here Monday, two days ahead of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to India.

 The former Indian ambassador to China said India sees China as its largest neighbor and looks forward "in the real and absolute sense to building bridges with China and understanding China better, creating more of a beneficial relationship."

She said that relations between India and China have become mature and have been continuously improved as evidenced by the substantial growth in bilateral trade, more frequent student exchanges and her candid interaction with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi last month in Beijing.

Rao added that India hopes to receive more Chinese investment, especially in the infrastructure sector.

"The kind of achievements that China has recorded when it comes to building of infrastructure and building of new China, are certainly example for us to study with great interest," Rao said.

She also urged the young people of the two countries to look at the achievements of the China-India relationship with new ideas.

At the conference, Indian Ambassador to China S. Jaishankar also stressed that China and India share common interests in many international issues, saying the two countries are emerging together by collaborating with each other.