Chinese FM holds talks with Swaraj

In the first high-level interaction with the new dispensation here, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi today held talks with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in key areas including trade and investment.

Wang, who is special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping, arrived in the wee hours to establish political contacts with the new Indian government amid hopes of an upswing in bilateral ties due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's familiarity with China.

Both Wang and Swaraj were assisted by their delegations which comprised of senior officials from the foreign ministry.

During his two-day visit, he will call on President Pranab Mukherjee and Modi tomorrow.Wang will also be meeting leading Indian officials and will have in-depth exchanges on how to push forward bilateral relations.

The new Chinese leadership is keen to improve relations with India in the face of serious challenges it faces over its maritime disputes with Japan in the East China Sea and with Vietnam, the Philippines and other maritime neighbours in the South China Sea amid a major US military push into the Asia-Pacific.