During a recent state visit to India, Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji met with his Indian counterpart, Atal Behari Vajpayee. The result of the meeting was the signing of six agreements to cooperate on technological projects and a space program, as well as the tourism industry.

In addition, the prime ministers of the two most populous countries agreed for the first time to exchange technicians and establish direct flights between Beijing and New Delhi. According to the ***South China Morning Post*** they also supported a joint campaign against terrorism, regardless of their attitudes towards Pakistan.

Another subject of the two leaders' negotiations was about trade relations as defined by the standards of the World Trade Organization (WTO). New Delhi regards the membership of China in WTO as a way to promote the interests of developing countries, including India.

The fact is that Sino-India relations are of great significance at bilateral, regional and international levels. The bilateral relations between the two mostly focus on economy as well as the disputed region of Kashmir. In the past these commercial ties have been relatively stunted, and despite the fact that their total trade was valued at two billion dollars in 1998, the two leaders regard it as inadequate. At the regional level, after Pakistan stopped its support of the Taleban militia in the wake of U.S. attacks on Afghanistan, New Delhi now expects Islamabad to terminate its backing of separatists in Kashmir as well. In some respects, this contention is more serious than the issue in Afghanistan, especially since Beijing also has territorial claims on part of Kashmir.

As far as relations at the international level are concerned, India is trying to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and China intends to play its due role in international crises. Furthermore, they have bilateral relations with Russia and the United States that can influence political equations in the world.

Undoubtedly, the expansion of New Delhi-Beijing relationship can positively affect regional and international security.