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Chinese Premier Visits India to Discuss Borders, Trade


Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his visiting Chinese counterpart are discussing trade, regional stability, and a longstanding border dispute as Premier Li Keqiang wraps up his first foreign trip since taking office.

Mr. Li arrived in New Delhi Sunday. He said he hopes his meetings will build trust and cooperation between the world's two most populous countries.

The three-day visit came than two weeks after the peaceful end of a tense military standoff over the disputed Ladakh region in the western Himalayas. China and India have never finalized their border there, and tensions subsided only when the two sides restored the status quo.

The two leaders also discussed ways to balance India's trade deficit with China, which exports power and telecommunications technology to India.

China says placing India first on the itinerary of its new premier demonstrates the importance Beijing places on the relationship between the two countries.



Premier Li, accompanied by a large business delegation, is expected to visit India's financial hub of Mumbai to meet top executives and visit India's largest Information Technology company (Tata Consultancy Services).

New Delhi wants more access for its companies to China's IT and pharmaceutical sectors, where India has an advantage. Indian officials say "they hope for results very soon."

China is India's largest trading partner.

After India, Mr. Li is set to visit Pakistan, Switzerland, and Germany in an effort to carry the message that China wants more open relations and should not be seen as a threat.
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