Chinese premier on trade cooperation with South Asia

China develops cooperation with South Asia according to the situation of different countries, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Tuesday in New Delhi.

When meeting representatives of Indian news media, Wen said that over 50 documents were signed during his current visit to four South Asian countries and that most of them are related to economic and trade cooperation.

Wen will conclude his India tour and go back to Beijing late Tuesday. Prior to India, he has already visited Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

He said China develops economic and trade relations with South Asia based on quality and mutual benefit, and the two sides have great potential in this regard although the scale of the economic and trade cooperation is still small.

For India, Wen said, China will expand high-tech cooperation, adding India has advantage in software, and China is good at manufacturing and hardware.

For Pakistan, he said, China will further the cooperation on infrastructure and minery.

For Sri Lanka, he said, besides economic and trade cooperation, China will make all efforts to give aid.

The Chinese government extended 166 million yuan (about 20 million US dollars) in aid to Sri Lanka. On Wen's current visit, he brought another 8.7 million US dollars donated by Chinese people to Sri Lanka.

China will help Sri Lanka to build roads, railways and ports, and set up a earthquake monitoring system, Wen said.

For Bangladesh, China will promote agricultural cooperation with the country, Wen said.