Premier: China and India to establish closer partnership

Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Monday in New Delhi that China and India would establish closer partnership relations.

He told reporters after an official reception honored to him by his counterpart Manmohan Singh "We will establish closer partnership, we will finalize political guiding principles for solving border issue and we will announce the 5-year plan for economic and trade cooperation after my talks with Singh."

A friendship bridge will be set up between China and India, which "will lead us to the future," the Chinese premier said before holding talks with his Indian counterpart.

Wen described his visit as an important one in the history of Sino-Indian relations and expressed his belief that his visit would deepen the friendship between the two countries.

Wen arrived here Sunday evening from Bangalore, Southern India, where he visited the hi-tech park.