File photo of Chinese President Xi Jinping with Vice President Hamid Ansari
Chinese President Xi Jinping has said that India is a priority for China's foreign policy and both the nations should work to develop together, media reported on Tuesday.
Describing India as a strategic partner during the course of a meeting with visiting Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari on Monday, Mr Xi said both sides should grab the opportunity for joint development, including promoting the construction of an economic corridor through China, Bangladesh, Myanmar and India, the China Daily reported.
Mr Ansari is leaving for India on Tuesday after a five-day trip to China, during which he attended a function commemorating the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Panchsheel agreement between the two countries.
Mr Ansari said the world was large enough for the rise of both India and China, which view each other as partners for mutual benefit and not as rivals.
India would like to properly handle differences and problems with China, he said.
Earlier Monday, Mr Ansari and Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao held talks and witnessed the signing of three memorandums of understanding, including one on industrial parks and one on flood data sharing.