To work out road map to upgrade economic ties, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed confidence in deepening mutual trust with China as he embarks on his first visit here to work out a road map for "qualitatively upgrading" economic ties and seek greater Chinese participation in India's growth story.

Speaking to Delhi-based Chinese media on the eve of his visit to China, Modi said he wanted to focus on how India and China could further strengthen mutual trust and confidence, so as to realise the full potential of the relationship.

"I look forward to working out a roadmap for qualitatively upgrading our economic relations and seek greater Chinese participation in India's economic growth, especially in transforming India's manufacturing sector and infrastructure," he said.

The Prime Minister said he believed the relationship between India and China could be one of the most important relationships of the century.

"I intend to work with the Chinese leadership to lay the foundation for this," state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Modi as saying.

On the potential cooperation between India and China on the 'Belt and Road' economic cooperation plan, he said it was the demand of a re-emerging Asia and would be one of the issues that he expected to discuss with the top Chinese leadership.

Modi said since ancient times, Asia had been connected in a variety of ways by land and sea.

"Today, a re-emerging Asia must reconnect its many regions and with the world beyond. Like China, India too is seeking to strengthen connectivity to the East and West. India and China are also working together on Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar Corridor," he said.

The Prime Minister told China's state-run CCTV that he has "no doubt" that his forthcoming visit to China - his first after assuming power last year - will deepen bilateral ties and create a "milestone for relations between developing countries in Asia and around the world".

"The 21st century is the century of Asia, and a century where we can fight for freedom. China and India should join hands and cooperate closely to promote world peace and stability, which is what the times demand of us," he said.

India and China have made great progress in bilateral relations in recent years and managed their differences with patience and maturity, he added.

Besides making efforts to settle border disputes in peace, the two sides also reached agreement on various international and regional issues, he said.