By Li Hongmei

China and India on Tuesday agreed to focus on growth and strengthening of relationship between the two countries.

When the two Asian giants shake hands, the world notices, the visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said after talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday.

"We had candid discussions on global and regional issues of concern to both the countries," Singh was cited by media as saying.

The two premiers agreed to take several steps to enhance mutual trust and deepen mutual understanding.

Both have resolved to realize full promise of their partnership and maintain the friendliness of relations, Manmohan Singh said addressing reporters after the meeting.

The two countries signed nine agreements, including pacts on border cooperation and on sharing of trans-border rivers.

The agreements on border defense will boost communication between the two sides about maneuvers along the frontier, jointly combat smuggling there and assist each other in locating people who may have strayed across the line.

"We have agreed that peace and tranquility on border must be the foundation of growth in the relationship between the two countries. We have decided to institutionalize greater exchanges between the armed forces of India and China," Manmohan Singh said.

Manmohan Singh said the agreement on Border Defense Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) will add to "existing instrument to establish peace and tranquillity on the border".

"We discussed ways to boost political relations and mutual cooperation," Premier Li Keqiang said after meeting Singh.

Li said that Wednesday's meeting will "inject new momentum and vitality into the China-India relationship.''

"I received full support from the Chinese premier on all issues of mutual concern," Singh echoed.

In addition, the two neighbors have set a target of US$100 billion in bilateral trade by 2015, up from US$61.5 billion last year.