NEW Delhi; India and China will sign three agreements during the six-day visit of Chinese premier Li Peng .

He will be the first Chinese premier to visit India in t31 years.

The agreements will relate to reopening border trade, open consulates-general in Bombay and Shanghai and forging cooperation in the field of outer space, an external affairs ministry spokesman said here on Monday.

Li holds his first round of talks with Narasimha Rao on Thursday.

In all, there would be two rounds of talks between the two prime ministers. The spokesman said the boundary question would figure during the official talks here.

The Chinese side is reported to be keener to discuss with the Indian leaders the emerging new international order following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Li would like the five principles of mutual co-existence to govern the new international order. The Chinese leadership seems to believe that the five principles would provide a counter-balance to domination by one or more big powers.

Official sources say Chinese leadership is keen that the boundary question be not allowed to inhibit cooperation between the two big neighbors in various field.,

Two former prime ministers, V P Singh and Chandra Shekhar, will call on him. Li will also hold discussions with the BJP, C.P.l and CPM leaders.

Article extracted from this publication >> December 13, 1991