Sino-Indian trade is set to cross the $10 billion-mark this year for the first time and New Delhi is determined to further diversify and strengthen bilateral ties, Indian Ambassador to China, Nalin Surie has said.

"One of the principle efforts from our part is to increase the trade and economic relationship with China," Surie said.

"We should, according to Chinese figures, cross $10 billion in bilateral trade this year," Surie said in Beijing addressing the first-ever interactive session with Indian businessmen and professionals organised by the Indian Embassy here.

"We are quite determined to take this forward. My own personal preference is for a realistic figure of $20 billion by 2010 which I think is doable if we go by what we have done in the last five years," he said.

"Statistics-wise we are doing rather well," Surie said.

According to latest Chinese customs figures, Sino-Indian bilateral trade during the first seven months of this year amounted to $7.7 billion, up 88.21 per cent over the corresponding period of 2003.

The total trade during January-July period has already exceeded $7.6 billion recorded during the whole of 2003.

India's exports to China during January-July touched $4.8 billion, up 103.94 per cent over the same period last year. At the same time, India's imports from China rose 67.34 per cent to $2.9 billion.

Surie, who sought inputs from Indian businessmen and professionals here on ways to further diversify and strengthen the ties, said the Indian Embassy was keen to serve the interests of growing number of Indian nationals in China.

"We run an open Mission here," he said, adding, "we should get to know each other better." The Ambassador promised to meet the Indian business community and professionals on a regular basis in future.

"We need many more ideas from all of you who are out in the field on how we can develop our trade and economic relationship with China," he said.

The Ambassador responded to many queries of the Indian businessmen on matters such as simplification of visa procedures, dual citizenship, availability of Indian television channels in China, trade facilitation, etc.