A delegation of senior Chinese Naval Officers today visited the Indian Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo.

The first India-US strategic dialogue is taking place amid the backdrop of incidents which see commonality of interests between the oldest and the largest democracies of the world.

Chinese and Indian presidents Thursday agreed that the two Asian countries should further develop partnership and cooperation for mutual benefits as well as regional and global peace and development. Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Indian counterpart Pratibha Devisingh Patil held talks in Beijing Thursday afternoon.

China tried to woo India by playing old Bollywood songs and serving vegetarian food for President Pratibha Devisingh Patil during the state banquet hosted in her honour by her Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao here on Thursday.

President Pratibha Patil today arrived here to a red carpet welcome as the first Indian Headof the State to visit China in a decade for visit during which she will meet the top Chinese leadership and sign a number of agreements.

India and Turkmenistan today agreed to cooperate with each other in dealing with the scourge of global terrorism and called for the early conclusion of the Compehensive Convention on International Framework within the United Nations framework.

India has the cultural strengths that are ideally suited for the country to take on a global leadership position, according to Indonesian ambassador to India, Andi M Ghalib.

The US was once the undisputed global powerhouse. Now it is under threat from contenders who use the influence of culture and lifestyle to fight for global economic and political dominance. This political manipulation is referred to as soft power – achieving what you want by attracting and persuading others to adopt your customs - thriving on control, not force.