ndia and China will set up a joint working group to address all their trade related issues to strengthen economic relationship. At the ninth session of the India-China Joint Group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science and Technology in New Delhi today, the two also agreed to work on a five-year plan for furthering economic co-operation.Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma and his Chinese counterpart Chen Deming led their business teams at the meeting.

Addressing a joint press conference, Mr.Sharma said,the joint working group will be established soon and it will give its recommendations and assessments in 90 days.The visiting minister Deming said that during the time of global economic crisis, there was a need for strengthening India-China economic relationship. He also expressed hope of achieving USD 100 billion bilateral trade target by 2013.

Mr.Sharma invited Chinese firms to invest in the proposed national investment and manufacturing zone. Mr.Deming also asked Indian businessmen to participate in the fairs and exhibitions in China in order to increase their exports. AIR correspondent reports,in 2011-12, bilateral trade between the countries stood at 75.45 billion US Dollars .