India, China agree to make bilateral ties "stronger, wider and deeper"

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today met his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao in Phnom Penh on the sidelines of ASEAN and East Asia Summit. Both the countries agreed to make bilateral ties "stronger, wider and deeper" as the Chinese leader would be demitting office in March. In his statement the Prime Minister Dr Singh specifically referred to Wen's two visits to India in 2005 and 2010, saying these helped make the ties "stronger". He said during the first visit in 2005, the two countries established Strategic and Cooperative Partnership while the second visit in 2010 marked 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties. Dr singh will also meet counterparts of Cambodia and Thailand. PM meets President of PhilippinesPrime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh held separate meetings with the President of Philippines. Secretary (East) Sanjay Singh said the issue of terrorism and menace of piracy figured prominently in the discussions. In his discussions intensifying economic engagement with the ASEAN and concluding comprehensive economic partnership agreement hogged the lime light. On the side lines of the summit some more bilateral meetings are expected to take place. With an agenda to push for greater trade relations in the South East Asian region, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh reached in the Cambodian capital on Sunday to attend the ASEAN and East Asia Summits. The two summit meets will provide an opportunity for India to enhance its economic cooperation with the region amid lingering financial crisis in the western world. India is soon likely to finalise an agreement for boosting trade in investment and services in the region. Govt confident of convincing majority in parliament: SharmaCommerce Minister Anand Sharma, accompanying the Prime Minister on a tour to Cambodia, told the media onboard the special aircraft, that the Government is confident of convincing the majority in parliament. He was responding to a question on Mamata Banerjee's stand on bringing in a No-Confidence Motion in the Winter Session of Parliament against Centre's several reformist policies.