Beijing, 11 January 2012

Your Excellency Ambassador S. Jaishankar,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,

At the beginning of the new year, it is my great pleasure to visit the new premises of the Indian embassy in China at the invitation of Ambassador Jaishankar. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on moving to this new premises and wish you a happy new year.

In 2011, the Year of China-India Exchange, fresh and encouraging progress was made in China-India relations. The frequent meetings and contacts between the leaders of our two countries enhanced mutual political trust and communication and coordination on major international and regional issues. The first meeting of the Strategic Economic Dialogue was successfully held. Our economic cooperation and trade grew rapidly. In the first 11 months of 2011, bilateral trade volume exceeded 67 billion US dollars. A 500-member Indian youth delegation visited China and was warmly received by Premier Wen Jiabao, bringing China-India people-to-people exchanges to a new culmination. The Year of China-India Exchange has indeed been a great beginning of China-India relations in the second decade of the 21st century. Our bilateral relationship is on a right track. I would like to offer my warm congratulations on the success of the Year of Exchange and sincere thanks to all the people from China and India who have contributed to China-India friendship.

As we are aware, the world is undergoing profound and complex changes. The rapid development of China, India and other emerging developing countries is one of the most important changes and brings far-reaching impact to the world. Both Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have stated on a number of occasions that there is enough space in the world for both China and India to grow and there are enough areas where China and India can enhance cooperation. I believe the primary task of both countries is to focus on their respective development so that the 2.5 billion Chinese and Indian people will live in peace, prosperity and happiness. To further enhance our relations and cooperation is essential to our respective efforts to achieve national development. The peaceful development of China and India is an opportunity both for each other and for the world.

Looking ahead, China-India relations will be increasingly important to our two countries, the region and the entire world. We must follow the trend of our times for peace and development, work closely together for the interests of our peoples and overall bilateral relations, draw the attention of the 2.5 billion people of our two countries as much as possible to China-India cooperation and open up new prospects for China-India strategic and cooperative partnership.

- We should maintain high-level exchanges, step up dialogue and communication, deepen mutual political trust and be each other's good neighbors, good friends and good partners forever.

- We should expand practical cooperation in economy, trade, finance, infrastructure, information technology, green economy and so on. We should increase common interests and work for win-win outcomes.

- We should strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, support and encourage more mutual visits between our peoples, improve mutual understanding and increase mutual learning.

- We should deepen coordination and collaboration, enhance cooperation in international and regional affairs and uphold the common interests of developing countries.

- We should think and act in the interest of the overall China-India relationship. We need to handle issues between our countries wisely, calmly and properly to ensure that they will promote and not hinder the development of China and India and our bilateral relations.

At the beginning of the new year, I am convinced that by working together, we will make 2012 a year of friendly exchanges, win-win cooperation and common development on an even higher plane between China and India. Let us join hands for an even brighter future of China-India relations.

Thank you.