After nearly a two-hour talk between visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the two countries declared that they are "not rivals" but "partners for mutual benefit" and unveiled a ten-pronged strategy to intensify cooperation to give "greater content" to their strategic partnership.

Appearing in a joint media interaction with Hu, Singh said, "Cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy will be promoted."

Singh's remarks assume significance as they came after last week's approval by the US Senate of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal on which Beijing has so far refrained from commenting.

The remarks are also aimed at India's seeking cooperation from China on civil nuclear energy as Beijing is a member of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers' Group.

India is upbeat about China's approach towards civil nuclear cooperation after Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman said in Beijing yesterday that her country will take a "responsible attitude" towards the Indo-US nuclear deal while asking for more information from New Delhi.

A joint declaration, issued after the talk between Singh and Hu, said the two countries affirmed their commitment to resolve outstanding differences, including on the boundary question through "peaceful means and in a fair, reasonable, mutually-acceptable and pro-active manner".

There were no expectations of a breakthrough on the border issue although both sides are working out details of the next meeting of special representatives formed to examine the issue.

Singh said the two special representatives will be asked to accelerate their efforts to arrive at a boundary settlement on the basis of the Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles signed in April last year.

"We agree that an early boundary settlement will advance the basic interests of the two countries and must therefore be pursued as a strategic objective. Such a settlement will invest our strategic partnership with further strength and dynamism," he said.

While this process goes on, it will be ensured that "such differences are not allowed to affect the positive development of bilateral relations," the declaration said.

Singh said he had "cordial, open and constructive talk focusing on bilateral relations and cooperation on regional and multilateral issues".

The two countries agreed that the positive development of Sino-India relations in recent years "must be made irreversible", the Indian Prime Minister said.

They also agreed to set up additional consulates in Kolkata and Guangzhou cities to promote trade and tourism.