Sino-Indian ties good for Asia, world: Xi

Beijing (Xinhua): Chinese President Xi Jinping met Ajit Doval, special envoy and national security adviser to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Beijing on Tuesday.

Doval conveyed a message from Modi to Xi, in which the Indian Prime Minister said he believes Xi's upcoming state visit to India would deepen the two countries' understanding, friendship and trust, and inject new vitality to bilateral cooperation.

"The visit will be another important milestone in the development of India-China relations," Modi was quoted as saying. Invited by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, Xi will pay a state visit to India next week. Doval told Xi that the Indian government and people will warmly welcome him, vowing joint efforts with China to ensure the visit's success. Xi said Doval's visit showed the importance that Modi and the Indian government attached to his trip, and sent a positive signal to the world.

Xi said enhancing China-India relations meets the common aspirations of the two peoples.

Xi recalled his first meeting with Modi this July in Brazil at the sixth BRICS summit, saying they reached broad agreement and both believed China-India ties were of strategic importance.

“Our cooperation not only helps each other's development but also benefits Asia and the world at large,” Xi said.

Visit to Lanka, Maldives on Xi’s schedule
Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit India, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan and the Maldives from next week to bolster the country's relations with South Asia and Central Asia. The President is scheduled to attend the 14th meeting of the Council of Heads of the SCO member states on Thursday and Friday in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, said Qin.

After the meeting, Xi will also pay state visits to Tajikistan, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India at the invitation of counterparts.