Opening a new vista in their bilateral ties, nuclear-armed Asian giants India and China have decided to begin a dialogue on maritime cooperation that could include joint operations against pirates and sharing technological knowhow on seabed research.

The maritime cooperation proposal, seen as a major confidence-building move ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit here this month-end, were made by visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi who held talks with his Indian counterpart SM Krishna here onThursday.

Briefing the media on the talks between the two Foreign Ministers, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said the two countries “have agreed to estab-

lish and institutionalize a maritime dialogue between the two countries. Both India and China are maritime nations with long coastlines and active navies. The dialogue will aim at promoting cooperation and coordination between the two countries.

He said the details of the dialogue were yet to fleshed out but sources said it would include the navies and coast guards of the two countries for possible joint anti-piracy operations and sharing of expertise on seabedresearch.

The dialogue on maritime cooperation assumes significance as China is scaling up its naval presence in the Indian Ocean, one of the busiest sea lanes for international trade and its own energy supply route, and India forges closer defence ties with ASEAN countries straddling the South China sea.