China, India agree to pursue economic corridor

BEIJING -- China and India will continue to discuss with other parties to establish the BCIM (Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar) economic corridor, according to a joint statement issued Wednesday.

Amidst Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's China visit, the world's two most populous countries issued Joint Statement - A Vision for Future Development of China-India Strategic and Cooperative Partnership.

Pursuant to the understanding reached between the two leaders in May 2013, China and India have each established a Study Group on the BCIM Economic Corridor, the statement said.

Further discussion on concepts and alignment of the economic corridor are envisaged, it said.

The document revealed that the first BCIM Joint Study Group meeting will be held in the upcoming December "to study the specific programs" on the building of the corridor.

Singh was here as guest of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang for an official visit.

Li paid visit to India in May of 2013 as part of his first foreign trip after he assumed the premiership.

The exchange of visits by Chinese and Indian heads of government within the same calendar year was the first since 1954.