CRI听力:Xi's India Visit to Push Forward Bilateral Relations: Officials

Chinese and Indian officials are expecting President Xi Jinping's forthcoming visit to China's neighboring country will cement economic cooperation and push bilateral ties to a new high.

Our reporter Yin Xiuqi has the details.

Xi Jinping is on a four-nation Asia trip and is scheduled to arrive in India on Wednesday for a three-day state visit, the first of its kind in 8 years.

China's Ambassador to India Le Yucheng says President Xi Jinping will meet India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hold bilateral talks on a wide range of important issues.

"Leaders from both sides will lay out plans for the development of bilateral relationship in the next five to 10 years during the visit. This will lay a good foundation for the long-term development of bilateral ties. Meanwhile, they will exchange views on security and developmental issues in Asia as China and India are both large countries in the region."
The ambassador adds that economic and trade cooperation will be one of the focuses of the visit as the two neighbors are both heavyweight emerging economies in the world.

He reveals that some 20 bilateral agreements are likely to be signed in the sectors of trade, investment, finance and infrastructure construction.

Meanwhile, Syed Akbaruddin, a spokesman for India's foreign ministry, says Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to bolstering India-China economic ties.

"He has made it very clear that he is looking for investment in India, from all quarters, smart cities is a major project, as is railways a major project. And you would not be incorrect in thinking that these elements are likely to figure in any discussions."

China is likely to pledge to invest billions of US dollars in India's rail network during the visit by President Xi Jinping.

The Chinese leader is also expected to visit India's western state of Gujarat, one of the most prosperous state economies in the South Asian nation.

Gujarat and China's economic hub - Guangdong province are set to become sister provinces and China will help to build an industrial park in the Indian state.

Territorial disputes and distrust between the two neighbors have, at times, hindered economic cooperation between the two giants.

But officials from both sides have recently expressed their willingness to seek closer collaboration and common development, despite differences between them.

For CRI, I'm Yin Xiuqi.