Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is paying an official visit to India with the hope of promoting mutual trust, stepping up the wide-ranging bilateral cooperation and raising the Chinese-Indian strategic and cooperative partnership to a new level.

As scheduled, the Chinese Premier holds talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on December 16 to discuss bilateral cooperation and international and regional issues of mutual concern.

On Dec. 15, the Chinese Premier addressed a bilateral business cooperation forum where he called for greater efforts to accelerate bilateral cooperation and trade ties. The forum brought together 600 elite businesspeople of the two countries.

At an evening banquet hosted by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh later the same day, Wen said that the relationship between China and India not only benefits the two peoples, but also is of great significance to peace and development in Asia and the world as a whole.

During his three day official visit to India , starting on Dec. 15, the Chinese leader planned to attend activities to mark the 60 th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties and meet with representatives of people of all walks of life in India .

Two-way trade between China and India rocketed 51.8 billion USD in 2008 from 18.7 billion USD in 2005. It is expected to hit 60 billion USD in 2010.

The Chinese Premier will visit Pakistan after his trip in India./.