China expects closer cooperation with India under SCO framework

(Xinhua) — China is looking forward to enhancing cooperation with its neighbor India under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Chinese President Xi Jinping said here on June 23.

Xi made the remarks while meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of this year’s SCO summit scheduled for June 23-24 in Tashkent.

China-India strategic partnership is rapidly growing in the direction set by both leaders, said Xi. He recalled the important consensus he had reached with Indian President Pranab Mukherjee on bilateral ties when the latter was paying a visit to China last month.

China will work with India to master the general course for the development of ties, he added.

Xi said that the two countries have much more common interests than differences, and the two sides should enhance pragmatic cooperation in areas such as trade, railway, industrial parks, energy and electricity, information technology, energy conservation and environment protection.

He also extended his congratulations to Modi over India’s upcoming signing of a memorandum of obligation to join the SCO, a key step for India to obtain membership of the organization.