Chinese scholars and media are upbeat about emergence of much stronger Sino-India ties following the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] to Beijing [Images] during which the two Asian giants unveiled their 'Shared Vision' for 21^st century.

The 'encouraging' extent of consensus between the two sides reflected in the joint document issued by them at end of Singh's talks would lead to stronger relations, they feel.

Dr Singh and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao signed a joint statement titled 'A Shared Vision for the 21st Century of India and China,' with the two countries seeking to build a 'boundary of peace and friendship.'

Encouraged by robust growth in bilateral trade, the two nations have revised the target to $60 billion by 2010 as the volume reached $38.7 billion in 2007, close to the previous target of $40 billion by 2010.

Wang Dehua, a Shanghai-based researcher on South and mid-Asian affairs, said Dr Singh's visit was a demonstration of the harmony between China and India.

"It is developing increasingly converging interests and carrying on links that date back to centuries."

Dr Singh's address to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a top think tank, including reference to the Chinese Premier's speech on the importance of openness and inclusiveness in the development of a nation in Singapore last year, has resonated with the scholars at the institute.

"Some of his (Dr Singh's) remarks, which were delivered with Oriental modesty, sounded fresh and very positive," Zhang Yuyan, director of the Institute of Asia Pacific Studies of the CASS, was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.

Zhang said the Indian prime minister sent out a clear and strong message advocating cooperation and not contention between the world's largest developing countries.

In his speech at the CASS, Dr Singh had spoken of the role India and China were destined to play in transforming Asia and the world, saying there was enough space for both to grow and prosper while strengthening their cooperative engagement.

On lingering issues such as the boundary problem, the two leaders decided not to let the dispute hamper the bilateral ties, Ma Jiali, a researcher with China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said.

"Although a long-standing border issue cannot be solved by a single visit, both leaders have set political parameters. They have again demonstrated political will for the matters to be solved in a mutually satisfactory method in due time," he said.

In the joint document, both China and India have vowed to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question through peaceful negotiations while ensuring thaat differences were not allowed to affect bilateral relations.

Chinese Foreign Ministry has said Dr Singh's visit was 'not long but the content is rich' and it would have a 'long-term and significant impact' on the bilateral relations.

The state media also attached high importance to Dr Singh's visit.

State-run China Daily carried a five-column photo of Dr Singh and Wen on the front page along with the report on their meeting and the joint document. Dr Singh's address to scholars at the prestigious CASS was also telecast live by the state-run CCTV.