Chinese PM Wen Jiabao has told his Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh, that there is ‘enough space’ in the world for both countries to develop.

His comments came during a meeting on the sidelines of a regional meeting in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi. Mr Wen said he would visit India this year.

China is India’s largest trading partner; two-way trade volumes surpassed $50bn (£31bn) in 2008.

The two nations fought a brief border war in 1962, but ties have improved.

Beijing and Delhi have had a ‘strategic and co-operative partnership’ since 2005.

But both countries continue to accuse each other violating their shared boundary and illegally occupying each other’s territory.

‘There is enough space in the world for India and China to achieve common development… to have co-operation,’ Mr Wen said at Friday’s meeting with Mr Singh.

‘We must strive to ensure the sound and steady growth of our relationship,’ he said.

Reports in the Indian media say Mr Wen is expected to visit India on 16 December.

The Chinese premier said the two countries will reach a ‘consensus on some major aspects to lay a foundation for the visit’.

The leaders’ meeting was the first top-level contact between Beijing and Delhi since last year’s dispute over visas issued by China […]