Indian President Pratibha Patil sought to soothe trade disputes and recent border tensions in meetings Thursday with Chinese leaders in Beijing, AP reported. Patil is the first Indian head of state in a decade to visit her country's giant neighbor, an illustration of how ties remain cool almost 50 years after the two countries fought a brief border war. Patil met with Premier Wen Jiabao and President Hu Jintao. The two presidents then attended a signing ceremony for a number of bilateral agreements. The specific content of the talks and agreements was not immediately known. Patil's six-day visit will also take her to the India pavilion at the World Expo in Shanghai . -- SPA
