China holds a positive view on promoting cooperation in South Asia and strengthening the role of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, Premier Wen Jiabao said in New Delhi yesterday.
At a meeting with representatives of the Indian news media in New Delhi, Wen said China hopes to cooperate with neighboring countries in promoting peace and stability in South Asia.
China welcomes cooperation between India and international organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, he said.
On relations with Russia and India, Wen said China holds a positive view on the exchange of views with the two neighbors on issues of common concern.
He said China, India and Russia, as influential countries in the world, have similar views on promoting democratization in international relations and safeguarding world security and stability.
Wen noted that cooperation between the three countries will not lead to the formation of an alliance and is not directed against any other country.
China understands and supports a bigger role for India in the international community and the United Nations, the premier said.
He added that China attaches importance to the role India has played in international affairs.
China hopes to cooperate on border trade cooperation with Sikkim at an early date, which is in the interest of both countries, Wen said.
He said Sikkim is not a problem between China and India, and this is the consensus of the leaders of the two countries, now China has been building the trade market on its side.
In order to secure the stability of the border, Wen said, China has taken measures to solve the border problem left over from history.
"This matter tells us that as long as the two sides bear sincerity, and patience, the border between China and India will become a bridge linking the friendship of the two sides," he said.
As for relations with Japan, Wen noted that only if a nation respects and is responsible for history and wins the trust of other peoples in Asia and the rest of the world, can it play a bigger role in the international community.
"The core issue of Sino-Japanese relations is that Japan should treat history correctly," Wen said.
He said Japan launched a war of aggression last century, which caused a great deal of suffering for the people of China, other Asian nations and the rest of the world.
Recently, demonstrations erupted in China and other countries against Japan's distortion of its wartime history. "The strong reactions from Asian peoples should be reviewed by the Japanese authorities," Wen said.
He said the two countries should learn from history and face up to the future to continue to develop the relationship between China and Japan.
On trade, Wen said China is developing cooperation with its South Asian neighbors according to the situation of different countries.
Wen said that over 50 documents were signed during his visit to four South Asian countries and most of them related to economic and trade cooperation.
Wen returned to Beijing last night, concluding his week-long official visits to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India.