New Delhi, May 20 (IANS) : India is an important neighbour, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Monday and stressed that the main aim of his visit was to increase areas of mutual interest and intensify cooperation.
"India is China's important neighbour. (The purpose of) my current visit to India is three-fold -- to increase mutual interest, intensify cooperation and to face the future," Li said outside Rastrapathi Bhavan in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Chinese leader arrived in India Sunday on his first overseas tour since he took office in March. On Monday, both sides are to hold formal talks.
Li is heading an 80-member delegation that includes Foreign Minister Wang Yi. On Tuesday he will go to Mumbai, from where he will go to Pakistan, Switzerland and Germany.
Li had last visited India 27 years ago as the head of a youth delegation and has said he has fond memories of that trip.
In today's world both sides see each other's development as a major opportunity, the Chinese Premier, who had a "candid" meeting with Singh here last night, said.
Li, who arrived here yesterday on a three-day visit to India, his first foreign tour after assuming charge, said, "On the basis of strategic mutual trust, the two countries have struck a new kind of relationship which could be described as healthy and sound.
"That would be a true message for Asia and the world," he said.
Maintaining that the large markets of the two countries have created enormous potential for growth and prosperity in Asia and the whole world, he said, "China and India have decided to intensify practical cooperation."
He said the two sides will launch China-India regional trading engagement negotiations besides an economic corridor.
"We will support the development of industrial zone in each other's country so as to support economic growth between them," he said.
Li said another purpose of his visit was to look ahead to the future as Asia is expected to play a more important role in the 21st century.
"Most importantly the consensus that we have reached during this trip is that the seeds that we sow today will keep growing into harbouring trees laden with rich fruits," the Chinese leader said.
He also said that China was looking forward to the Indian Prime Minister's visit later this year.