Chinese Premier Li Keqiang calls for a handshake across Himalayas

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang offered New Delhi a "handshake across the Himalayas" and said the world's two most populous nations could become a new engine for the global economy if they could avoid friction on the militarised border.

"What we need is a handshake across the Himalayas, what we need is to stand at a higher level to have a birds-eye view of our relations. I am convinced that as long as we hold a holistic perspective and work together towards the future, we will create a bright future for our two countries, for Asia and the world," said Keqiang, while addressing a gathering of Indian scholars, students and industrialists in New Delhi.

Stressing on the need for increased people-to-people interaction between India and China, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang declared 2014 as the year of exchanges between the two nations to boost understanding and friendship.

Addressing captains of Indian industry at a function organised by FICCI here, Keqiang said: " The year of 2014 will boost understanding and friendship between both countries."

Keqiang, who is in India on a three-day state visit, further said both India and China have the wisdom to find mutually acceptable solution to the boundary problem.

"India and China have not shied away from addressing boundary question, have wisdom to find a fair and mutually acceptable solution...We have been able to put all issues on the table," he added.

Supporting a favourable trade balance and seeking to decrease trade deficit between India and China, he said Beijing would support Chinese enterprises to increase investments in India and help Indian products have access to Chinese market.