The Hindu Business Line : India-China trade tops $11.4 b in first 4 months

Berlin June 7 Trade between India and China has grown 56.8 per cent in the first four months of this year (2007), and has crossed $11.4 billion, the Foreign Secretary, Mr Shiv Shankar Menon, said on Thursday.

"We are well on track to doubling trade to $40 billion a year by 2010."

Mr Menon was briefing the media on the talks the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, had with the Chinese President, Mr Hu Jintao, here this morning as the two leaders awaited their meeting with leaders of the G-8, the group of eight industrialised nations at the German resort town of Heiligendamm.

Both sides expressed satisfaction at the developments in the bilateral relations since the two leaders met in New Delhi in November 2006. Mr Menon quoted the Chinese President as saying that the relationship had reached the stage of "fast-track growth."

The two countries discussed their respective positions on climate change, an issue on which they, as some of the fastest growing consumers of energy, are expected to be under pressure when they meet the G-8 on Friday.

The US President, Mr George Bush, gave enough hints of this when he said that India and China need to be part of any global discussions on setting targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Speaking briefly to newsmen after meeting the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, Mr Bush said, "The US would be actively involved, if not taking the lead in a post-Kyoto framework, a post-Kyoto agreement. I view our role as a bridge between people in Europe and others, and India and China. If you want them both at the table, it's important to give them the opportunity to set an international goal."

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