Chinese dream, Indian dream closely connected: Chinese vice president

Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao says the Chinese dream and Indian dream are closely connected and complement each other, while highlighting the deepening cooperation between the two neighbors.

In an article published in the local daily The Hindu, Li, who is on a visit here, said both India and China have brilliant ancient civilizations representing the East's unique wisdom, while experiencing economic growth and renewed vitality now and contributing their share to world peace and development.

Li quoted Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore as saying that "China and India are very old and beloved brothers" and said over the past 2,000 years, there have been numerous tales and legends about the friendly exchanges between the two countries.

He recalled that in the 1950s, China and India, together with other Asian countries, jointly initiated the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence and turned them into basic norms governing international relations.

Calling "a blessing to the world is the simultaneous development of China and India", the vice president said China and India have seized the opportunities of economic globalization and technological revolution and embarked on the fast track of development, driven by reform and innovation.

"Not only have we improved the livelihoods of 2.5 billion people, but we have also become twin engines propelling the economic development of the world," he said.

Li said Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and other Chinese leaders have met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Indian leaders on many occasions, during which they reached important consensus on forging an even closer partnership for development.

"We are ready to work together with India in line with the consensus between our leaders to increase strategic mutual trust, deepen traditional friendship, and work for faster and greater development of China-India relations," he said. Endit