BEIJING : India and China today inched closer to resolving their major differences on outstanding issues, particularly the vexed Border issue, with both countries signing the crucial Border Defence Cooperation Agreement and a pact on Trans-Border Rivers, shaking hands for the world to notice.
“When India and China shake hands, the world notices,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said after his talks with his Chinese counterpart at the Great Hall of People in central Beijing.
The two countries also signed seven other pacts, including three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on cooperation between “sister cities” of Delhi-Beijing, Bangalore–Changdou and Kilkatta–Kunming.
The other agreements signed are an MoU on Nalanda University, Cultural Exchange programme for 2013-15, MoU on Road Transport and Highways, MoU on setting up of Power Equipment Centres in India.
The Border Defence Cooperation Agreement to ensure peace and tranquility along the 4,000 km long border between the two countries was signed by Defence Secretary R K Mathur and his Chinese counterpart Sun Jinguo.
(AGENCIES)