Keeping aside their intense battle of nerves on cross-border issues, India and China on Saturday vowed not to allow mutual differences to jeopardise “functional cooperation” in bilateral ties, while observing that a robust partnership between the two Asian giants was in the interest of the region and the world.

Meeting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of the ongoing 15th Asean Summit here, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he would like to see India-China relations move forward in every direction. “The Prime Minister underscored the need for both sides to build better understanding and trust at the political level so that our relations remained robust and strong. He emphasised that neither side should let differences act as an impediment to the growth of functional cooperation between the two nations,” Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, N Ravi said after the meeting.

Singh started the meeting, sources said, by saying, “I am excited to see you.” To this, Wen reciprocated in Mandarin.

Singh indicated that the issues that have come up in the recent months—business visas for Chinese workers, building of dams on the Brahmaputra and Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh—should be “properly handled” through discussions. Sources said the areas of convergence include economic relations and climate change. China did not raise Arunachal Pradesh or Dalai Lama in the meeting.

Ravi said the bilateral talks were held in “a warm and friendly atmosphere”. “The Prime Minister agreed with the Chinese Prime Minister’s assertion that our partnership is in the interest of the region and the whole world,” he said.

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