Beijing: India and China could forge an enduring and powerful partnership while being sensitive to each other’s concerns, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who begins an official visit to the Communist nation on June 22, said.

"With a commitment to the five principles of peaceful co-existence and with mutual sensitivity to the concern of each other, the two countries can construct an enduring and powerful partnership," Vajpayee told China's official Xinhua news agency in an interview released on June 21.

Vajpayee said he hopes his discussions with the Chinese leadership in Beijing from June 23 would lead to better understanding and trust between our two peoples, and impart further momentum to our broad- based bilateral co-operation.

"My visit to China is the first by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly a decade. In this period, our two countries have developed a wide canvas of mutually beneficial co-operation," he said ahead of his six- day official visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao.

"We have successfully developed mutually beneficial bilateral co-operation, while simultaneously addressing our differences," the Prime Minister said.

"Our dialogue now addresses not only the various areas in which we can improve bilateral co-operation, but also international issues such as terrorism, security, environment, sustainable development and multilateral economic regimes," he said.

Stating that the world around us has changed dramatically during these years, Vajpayee said, "As two of the world's largest and most populous developing countries, India and China should remain in close touch on global issues of concern to developing countries.

"But for the two countries which together have one-third of humanity," he said, "we have only taken the first few steps. We need to do much more to fulfil the true potential of our partnership – in the search for a multi-polar world order, in fashioning pragmatic responses to the challenges of globalisation, and in promoting a climate of peace, stability and development in Asia and in the world."

Vajpayee said he hopes to discuss these aspects during the visit.

The Prime Minister said he also looks forward to the opportunity of witnessing for himself the rapid economic development China has achieved in the last two decades.

"Your remarkable successes have many lessons for India," he told the Xinhua correspondents.

Commenting on Sino-Indian relations, he said, "In recent years, our two countries have launched a process of diversification of bilateral relations.

"Our trade relations are developing in a healthy manner," he said while pointing out that bilateral exchanges are growing in culture, education, science and technology, media and tourism."

On the economic ties between the two countries, Vajpayee said, "India and China are among the world's fastest growing economies. The basic structure of our economies is not dissimilar, though we have chosen different paths towards development. We have complementarities created by our technological development and human resources skills."

"Our trade is growing rapidly. It nearly touched $ five billion last year and, at the rate at which it is growing, can easily reach $ 10 billion in the next couple of years," he said.

"Of course, we have to constantly strive to increase the proportion of 'new economy' products in our turnover, compared to the traditional item," he said.

He said, "Indian companies are showing interest in investing in China. About 70 Indian companies have entered China, with an investment total of about $ 65 million.

"I understand more projects are on the anvil. We would equally like to see Chinese companies investing in India," he added.

He also indicated that during his visit, he would discuss with the Chinese leadership proactive measures to identify and exploit new opportunities for economic and technological co-operation.

PTI