Benefit of teaming up goes beyond borders

China to assist India upgrade infrastructure, improve trade

Outside the red carpet and receptions full of personal touches, President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi mapped out a new era in relations on Thursday with major deals worth billions of dollars and pledges to control border disputes.

The 12 agreements, together with three signed on Tuesday at the start of Xi's visit, will substantially increase Chinese investment in India and help New Delhi address its key agenda of modernizing its infrastructure and narrowing its trade deficit with China, observers said.