DHAKA: India hailed talks with China on Sunday as a good step towards stronger ties in the first high-level meeting of the rival Asian giants since prime minister Narendra Modi took charge.

China’s foreign minister Wang Yi met his Indian counterpart in New Delhi during a two-day visit to build relations with the right-wing Modi government which came to power last month on a pledge to revive the economy.

Foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said talks between Wang and India foreign minister Sushma Swaraj on economic and other issues were ‘productive and substantive’.

‘All issues of significance were raised and discussed in a frank and cordial manner,’ Akbaruddin told reporters, reports The Straits Times.

‘In our view this is a productive beginning between the new government of India and the Chinese government,’ he said without giving details.

BDST: 2032 HRS, JUNE 08, 2014