India and China yesterday proposed a 10-point strategy in a joint declaration on further developing bilateral relations to promote the sustainable socio-economic development of the two countries.

The strategy is also aimed at fully realizing the potential for cooperation in a wide range of areas, upgrading China-India relations to a qualitative new level and further substantiating and reinforcing their Strategic and Cooperative Partnership.

The following is the 10-point strategy the leaders of the two countries have committed themselves to pursuing:

--Ensuring comprehensive development of bilateral relations;

--Strengthening institutional linkages and dialogue mechanisms;

--Consolidating commercial and economic exchanges;

--Expanding all-round mutually beneficial cooperation;

--Instilling mutual trust and confidence through defence cooperation;

--Seeking early settlement of outstanding issues;

--Promoting trans-border connectivity and cooperation;

--Boosting cooperation in science and technology;

--Revitalizing cultural ties and nurturing people-to-people exchanges;

--Expanding cooperation on regional and international stages.

The declaration was issued here after visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

India is the third leg of Hu's four-nation tour, which has already taken him to Vietnam and Laos, and will also take him to Pakistan.