Hu's visit message: 'Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai' Video

 Amid expectations of a major boost to bilateral relations, Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived here today on a four-day state visit during which the two countries will discuss nuclear energy cooperation and further development of economic ties.

 At least 10 pacts, including a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPA), are expected to be signed after Hu's talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on a wide range of issues.

 Immense significance is being attached to the Chinese Presidential visit taking place after a gap of 10 years, as the two sides are keen to utilise the opportunity to add "substance" to their strategic partnership. The last Chinese President to visit India was Jiang Zemin.

 Leading a high-level delegation on his maiden visit to India, Hu was received at the airport by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Minister-in-waiting Kapil Sibal. The Chinese President will be accorded a ceremonial welcome in the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan tomorrow.

 Incidentally, Hu is undertaking the visit when the two countries are celebrating the 'Year of Friendship'.

 As Hu began his visit that will also take him to Agra and Mumbai, India said it does not want the Arunachal Pradesh border issue to come in the way of overall development of bilateral ties with China.

 New Delhi notes that one of the disputes -- Sikkim -- has already been resolved with China admitting it to be a part of India.

 

Updated at 1600 hrs:While claiming "active progress" in resolving the vexed Sino-Indian border issue, China today said President Hu Jintao's visit to India will send an important message to the world that New Delhi and Beijing are "sincere friends and partners."

"We want to send an important message to the international community that China and India are sincere friends, partners for cooperation," Jiang Yu, spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry, said here ahead of Hu's arrival in New Delhi for his first state visit.

President Hu's visit to India is the first by the Chinese head of state in a decade and is also the first visit at the highest level after both countries established strategic cooperative partnership oriented towards peace and prosperity, she said.

Asked on the unresolved Sino-Indian boundary issue and China's reported claim on Tawang, a Buddhist city in Arunachal Pradesh, Jiang declined to comment.

However, she claimed that China and India have made "active" progress on the boundary issue. "China and India have made active progress on the issue of resolving the boundary," she said.

Jiang pointed out that in 2003, the Chinese and Indian Prime Ministers appointed Special Representatives to explore resolution of the boundary issue. In April last year, both governments signed the 'Agreement on Political Guiding Principles' for settlement of the boundary question.

Update at 1530 hrs:

Chinese President Hu Jintao today left for his maiden state visit to India.

Hu, also the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, left Vientiane for New Delhi after a two-day state visit to Laos, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Hu had attended the 14th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting on November 17-19 in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam.

Laos is the second leg of Hu's four-nation tour, which will also take him to India for a state visit from November 20 to 23 and in Pakistan from November 23 to 26.