Sino-India cooperation will lead Asia to a new century of peace, stability and prosperity, said Liu Jingqin, vice president of Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament in New Delhi Thursday.

The rapid economic growth in China and India will support the sustainable and steady economic growth in Asia, Liu said at the Seminar on China-India Relations held Thursday, one of the functions for "China-India Friendship Year."

"As the two largest developing countries in Asia, the development of China and India is vital for the development of Asia," he said.

Both China and India have reported remarkable economic growth in the past few years, which helped make Asia the most active economic zone in the world, Liu said.

India has maintained an annual economic growth of 5.5 percent in the past few years while China kept reporting 8 to 9 percent growth in the past two decades.

The two countries enjoy great potential in economic cooperation, he said, adding that working together instead of competition will benefit the two.

The bilateral trade is expected to hit US$18 billion last year, a year-on-year rise of 32.4 percent.

The mutual political trust and consensus between the two countries will contribute to the stability of Asia, Liu said.

The two countries have made great efforts to improve mutual trust and political cooperation. They decided to establish a strategic comprehensive partnership for peace and prosperity when Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited India in April last year.

China and India should improve cooperation in international and regional issues such as fighting terrorism, coping with environment problems and protecting the rights of developing countries, so as to further promote peace in Asia, Liu said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2006)