Hands across the Himalayas Wen Jiabao's visit to India next month has raised hopes that two once feuding nations can bury decades of tension under a new partnership. S.N.M.Abdi reports.

(From South China Morning Post)

Premier Wen Jiabao has declared his first visit to India next month the "most important event on my calendar", summing up the significance of engaging China's nuclear neighbour. Mr Wen said the whole world would be watching when India and China shook hands.

Indian analysts say Mr Wen will be the most important world leader to visit New Delhi in April - India's diplomatic spring - followed by Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf and Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Although Mr Wen will visit three other countries - Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka - India tops his agenda. Arriving on April 9, he will spend four packed days in Bangalore and New Delhi.

The climax of his visit will be the signing of what is being touted as the "Delhi Declaration" by Mr Wen and his Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh. The signing ceremony is expected to be a big media event.

The wording of the joint declaration is still a secret but the aim, diplomats say, is to upgrade bilateral ties to a strategic partnership.

The world's two most populous nations have come a …