"As a developing nation, China will wholeheartedly concentrate on its economic development and social progress," Li, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC),

China's top legislature, explained during his meeting with Krishan Kant, Indian Vice President and chairman of Rajya Sabha, or the upper house of the Indian parliament, in New Delhi Thursday afternoon.

Li, who is on a week-long official goodwill visit to India as a guest of Kant and Speaker of Lok Sabha, or the lower house of the Indian parliament, G.M.C. Balayogi, arrived at New Delhi earlier Thursday.

Li, who paid a visit to India in 1991 as Chinese premier, told Kant that he was very happy to visit India again.

"With our two countries being close neighbors, our two peoples have a long history of friendship. My current visit aims at adding more impetus to the development of friendly ties between the two countries," Li said.

As mankind has just entered the new century and the world is faced with new opportunities and challenges, statesmen of both China and India should be far-sighted and focus on the future cooperation between the two countries for the benefits of both peoples, Li said.

"We should always put friendship and cooperation at the first place," said Li. "As to the existing problems and differences, I think we can try to resolve them step by step through more dialogue and exchanges."

Extending gratitude for India's support to China on the human rights issue, Li pointed to the fact that China and India share many common grounds on the international affairs and have maintained a fine cooperative relationship with each other.

On behalf of Rajya Sabha, Kant extended a warm welcome to Li's visit.

Kant said that he believes the 21st century should be Asia's century, and that as Asian nations, India and China can join hands and strive for the reinvigoration of Asia, thus playing a bigger role in the world.

The vice president said that India welcomes China's achievements in economic development, while the country itself is also seeking faster growth.

Voicing his approval of Li's views on India-China relations and the global situation, Kant said that India also hopes to see a world with multiple centers, or a multi-polar world, instead of a world with only one single country as its center.

India is willing to continue its cooperation with China on international affairs, including in the human rights area, said Kant, adding that he sincerely hopes India and China become permanent friends.

During their talks, Li also briefed Kant on the basics of the Chinese NPC and invited him to visit China.

Li's wife Zhu Lin and Kant's wife were present during the meeting, which was also attended by Vice-Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Buhe and other members of Li's entourage.

(People's Daily 01/12/01)