LDALL WEN 2 LAST

Indian Prime Minister Singh hosted a private dinner on
Wednesday night in honour of Wen, who is here on the first leg
of his two-nation visit that will also take him to Pakistan on
Friday.
Wen is expected to address some of India's key concerns
like those on stapled visas for Jammu and Kashmir residents,
its bid for a permanent seat in the UNSC and growing trade
imbalance during his talks with his Indian counterpart.
Wen, who is accompanied by a biggest delegation ever of
400 businessmen, senior ministers and officials, said both the
countries stand to gain from economic cooperation.
Making out a case for liberalising bilateral trade (about
USD 49 billion till January-October 2010), Wen said
liberalisation of the markets hold huge potential for the
domestic markets of the two countries.
"By opening markets to each other, we will be most
dynamic economies and can support each other in economic
development," he said.
With two-way trade between India and China poised to
cross USD 60 billion this year, Wen said that during his
meeting with Prime Minister Singh he would discuss ways to
enhance it further.
On India's concerns on trade imbalance, he said China
takes its "seriously".
"China takes seriously the trade imbalance between our
countries and stands ready to take further measures to
facilitate the access of Indian IT products, pharmaceuticals
and agro products to the Chinese market," Wen said.
India had a trade imbalance of USD 19 billion with China
in 2009-10.
Agreements, which will be signed during Wen's visit
include those between China Development Bank and Reliance
Power, China Aluminium International Trading Co and Vedanta
Aluminium Ltd, Bank of China and IDBI, Dongfang Electric
Corporation Ltd and Abhijeet Projects Ltd.
At another event, Wen while giving away the China-India
Friendship Awards to nine people, including CPI(M) Polit
Bureau member Sitaram Yechury, said the two countries should
work "hand-in-hand" in changing global and economic times.
In his arrival statement, Wen said China-India relations
faced major opportunities and enjoy broad prospects and that
the friendship and cooperation between the two sides have seen
comprehensive and rapid progress.PTI