China and India were not competitive opponents but cooperative partners, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao?in Beijing?Tuesday.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) meets with Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma in Beijing, China, Jan. 19, 2010. [Liu Jiansheng/Xinhua]

"Only if China and India achieve common development and prosperity could we have a real Asia century," Wen told Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma.

Both China and India were large developing nations in Asia, and the total population of the two countries accounted for 40 percent of the world, Wen noted.

"We share broad common interests," he said.

The premier said his country would work with India to boost good-neighborly friendship, increase coordinations in major international issues, and expand cooperation in trade, investment and other sectors in line with the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits.

"This will help promote the continuous stable growth of China-India ties," Wen said.

Wen also asked Sharma to convey his greetings to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President of Indian National Congress Party Sonia Gandhi.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (front R) meets with Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma in Beijing, China, Jan. 19, 2010.[Liu Jiansheng/Xinhua]

Sharma said the Indian leaders were devoted to strengthening the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

"This accords with fundamental interests of the two peoples and is also conducive to the development of Asia and the world at large," he noted.

Sharma was here on a visit at the invitation of China's Ministry of Commerce. He attended the eighth meeting of the China-India joint group on economy, trade, science and technology.