The Chinese premier Wen Jiabao, who is in India on a three-day visit, said that there is no rivalry between the two countries, the world's fastest growing economies as there is enough space for the both to grow. Comparing India to an elephant, Wen said there could be no rivalry between an elephant and a dragon here at a joint chambers of commerce conference on Wednesday.

"China and India are partners for cooperation and not rivals," he said.

On the first day of his visit, the premier sought to rest India's concerns over trade imbalaces with China. "Beijing takes the problem seriously and stands ready to take further measures to address it," he told the gathering of industrialists.

The bilateral trade between both countries stood at $43 billion in 2009, where India's trade deficit was $16 billion. The trade between both countries is set to reach $60 billion in 2010.

However, Wen evaded other contentious issues that India is likely to raise like the stapled Chinese visa for J&K residents, vexing border issues, Arunachal Pradesh, growing Sino-Pak nuclear cooperation, water issue or a permanent seat for India in the United Nations security council (UNSC). China remains the P-5 cuntry not to have endorsed India's aspirations to the UNSC permanent membership.

Assuring amity and cooperation between the two nations , the Chinese premier seemed to have taken a cue off prime minister Manmohan Singh's recent statement that there is enough space for both India and China to develop and prosper.

“There is enough space in the world for the development of both China and India and there are enough areas for us to cooperate,” he said.

But the dice is loaded against India as Singh meets Wen on Thursday. India needs to speak on other concerns apart from the economic ones and would be looking at Chinese commitment toward resolution or at least a dialogue on such issues. But, the question remains if the PM is willing to engage his Chinese counterpart in such a parley and if Wen Jiabao will venture a solid statement like US president Barack Obama, who endorsed India for a permanent UNSC seat, during the last leg of his November sojourn to India?