New Delhi, 18 September, 2014

India and China today signed 12 MoUs in New Delhi on second day of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India. Following are the details of the MoUs.

1

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China on Opening a New Route for Indian Pilgrimage (Kailash Mansarovar Yatra) to the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China.

The MoU provides for conducting the annual Kailash Manasarovar Yatra through Nathula Pass in Sikkim addition to the existing Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand. The route through Nathula will augment the capacity and reduce the hardship and journey time enabling many more pilgrims in particular aged pilgrims to undertake the Yatra.

2

Memorandum of Understanding between Ministry of Railways of the Government of Republic of India and the Government of People’s Republic of China on strengthening cooperation in Railways

Under the MoU, both sides have agreed to enhance cooperation in the Railway sector in following areas: (i)speed-raising, (ii)studying feasibility of cooperation in High-Speed Railways, (iii)Heavy-Haul transportation training of Indian Railway personnel, (iv)Redevelopment of Railway stations, (v)setting up of a Railway University in India, etc.

3

Action Plan between Ministry of Railways of the Government of Republic of India and the National Railway Administration of the Government of People’s Republic of China on strengthening cooperation in Railways

It provides specific projects for cooperation in railway sector.

4

Five year Trade and Economic Development Plan between Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Government of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Commerce of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

It lays down a medium term roadmap for promoting balanced and sustainable development of economic and trade relations between China and India, on the principle of equality and mutual benefit. The main objectives of the plan are : (i) reduction of bilateral trade imbalance; (ii) strengthen investment cooperation to realize US$ 20 billion investment from China in 5 years; (iii) a transparent, stable and investor friendly business environment; and (iv) enhanced cooperation between Chambers of Commerce and financial sectors.

5

Agreed Minutes of the Tenth Session of India-China Joint Economic Group.

The tenth Session of the India-China Joint Group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science and Technology (JEG) was held in Beijing on 2nd September 2014. Both sides held detailed discussions on issues to promote broad and deep bilateral trade and economic cooperation between India and China and agreed to undertake measures to achieve sustainable and balanced trade. Specific measures to enhance market access to Indian products such as agricultural, pharmaceutical and export of services will be expedited.

6

Agreement on Audio-Visual Co-production between The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Republic of India and the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of The People’s Republic of China.

The Agreement would enable the producers from both countries to get an opportunity to pool their creative, artistic, technical, financial and marketing resources to co-produce films. It would held Indian audio-visual products to gain greater market access.

7

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the People’s Republic of China
On mutual administrative assistance and co-operation in Customs matters.

The Agreement will help in enhancing cooperation to fight trans-border economic crimes and custom offences through sharing of information. It would also facilitate trade through enhanced customs cooperation.

8

Memorandum of Understanding between Indian Space Research Organisation and China National Space Administration on Cooperation in the Peaceful use of Space.

The MoU enables both sides to encourage exchange and cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, including Research and development of scientific experiment satellites, remote sensing satellites and communications satellites.

9

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China on Strengthening the Exchange and Cooperation between Cultural Institutions.

This MOU is intended to foster long-term collaboration between various cultural institutions of the two countries. These cultural institutions include museums, archaeological organizations and performing art centers.

10

Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between National Book Trust of the Republic of India and the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of The People’s Republic of China.

Both sides have agreed that China will participate in the New Delhi World Book Fair 2016 as the Guest of Honour Country. The Agreement will help provide greater access to their nationals of publications of the other side.

11

Work Plan on Drug Administration and Cooperation
Between China Food and Drug Administration of the People’s Republic of China
And Ministry of Health & Family Welfare of the Republic of India.

Under the work plan, the two sides will carry out cooperation in fields of drug standards, traditional medicine and drug testing, etc. Both sides will exchange delegations to enhance cooperation in this area.

12

Agreement on establishing Sister City relationship between Mumbai and Shanghai.

Establishes Sister-City relations between Mumbai and Shanghai. It will enhance people-to-people exchanges fostering greater mutual understanding.

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Press Statement by Indian Prime Minister during the visit of President Xi Jinping of China to India (September 18, 2014)

September 18, 2014

President Xi Jinping, members of the media,

I am delighted to welcome President Xi Jinping to India. I am especially pleased to host him within months of the formation of my Government in Delhi.

I attach great importance and priority to our relations with China. We are two ancient civilizations with a long history of engagement. China is our largest neighour, and India’s neighbourhood occupies a special place in my national development plans and foreign policy. Today, we are the world’s two most populous countries and its two largest emerging economies. We are both undergoing economic transformation on an unprecedented scale and speed.

Therefore, a climate of mutual trust and confidence; respect for each other’s sensitivities and concerns; and, peace and stability in our relations and along our borders are essential for us to realize the enormous potential in our relations.

If we achieve that, we can reinforce each other’s economic growth. We can contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in our region. And, we can give new direction and energy to the global economy.

Over the two days in Ahmedabad and Delhi, we had opportunities to discuss the full range of issues in our relationship, including political and security issues, economic relations and people-to-people contacts. We have decided to deepen our engagement at all levels and hold regular summit level meetings.

We agreed that our economic relations do not do justice to our potential. I expressed concern at the slowdown in trade and the worsening trade imbalance. I sought his partnership in improving market access and investment opportunities for Indian companies in China. President Xi assured me of his commitment to take concrete steps to address our concerns.

I have invited Chinese investments in India’s infrastructure and manufacturing sectors and spoke about our new policies and administrative steps in this area.

I am pleased with the agreements on two Chinese industrial parks in India and a commitment to realize about 20 billion U.S. dollars of Chinese investments in the next five years. This opens a new chapter in our economic relations. We have also agreed on specific steps to enhance cooperation in upgrading India’s railways sector. We will begin the process of discussions on civil nuclear energy cooperation that will bolster our broader cooperation on energy security.

I welcome our five year economic and trade development plan as an important new step to pursue higher ambitions in our economic relations.

Our agreements and announcements today demonstrate that people-to-people contacts, culture, tourism and art are central to our efforts to strengthen our partnership.

On behalf of the people of India, I thank President Xi for opening a new route through Nathu La to Kailash Mansarovar. This will be in addition to the existing route through Uttarakhand. The new route offers many benefits. It makes Kailash Mansarovar accessible by a motorable road, which is especially beneficial to the older pilgrims. It offers a safer alternative in the rainy season, makes the pilgrimage shorter in duration, and will enable a much higher number of pilgrims to go there.

As we discussed how to strengthen cooperation, we have also exchanged views on outstanding differences in our relationship in a spirit of candour and friendship.

I raised our serious concern over repeated incidents along the border. We agreed that peace and tranquility in the border region constitutes an essential foundation for mutual trust and confidence and for realizing the full potential of our relationship. This is an important understanding, which should be strictly observed. While our border related agreements and confidence building measures have worked well, I also suggested that clarification of Line of Actual Control would greatly contribute to our efforts to maintain peace and tranquility and requested President Xi to resume the stalled process of clarifying the LAC. We should also seek an early settlement of the boundary question.

Similarly, we discussed India’s concerns relating to China’s visa policy and Trans Border Rivers. I am confident that their early resolution would take mutual trust to a new level.

We had a productive discussion on regional and international developments and agreed to strengthen our strategic dialogue on these issues. We both understand that India and China have a shared interest in a peaceful and stable region, including peace, stability and prosperity Afghanistan. We will build closer cooperation on the shared challenges of terrorism and extremism. We also agreed to cooperate on our many shared interests at the global level.

We discussed regional connectivity and the proposal for the Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar Economic Corridor. Located at the crossroads of Asia, India believes that reconnecting Asia is important for its collective prosperity. I also believe that our efforts to rebuild physical connectivity in the region would also require a peaceful, stable and cooperative environment.

In conclusion, I would like to say that this is a historic opportunity for the relationship between India and China, filled with vast possibilities. We can start a new era in our relations. If we are sensitive to our opportunities and challenges, then I am confident that we will fulfill our responsibility to make it a great success.

Thank You.