Hundreds of university students from all over the world Friday gathered to share their views on China and India -- the two fastest growing countries in the world -- at a symposium sponsored by Harvard University.

The first ever Harvard College China-India Development and Relations Symposium (CIDRS) is scheduled for March 30 through April 2.

Linda Li, a sophomore of Harvard College and co-director of the project, said the conference aims to "foster a fuller understanding of the linkages between China and India, especially among students who will soon enter the policymaking world."

With the feverish economic growth and development of China and India in recent years, the timing and subject of CIDRS could not have been better, she said.

Edward Thai, a senior and also a conference co-director, echoed this view with reference to the CIDRS sponsors, which include the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Chinese and Indian embassies and the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

According to the organizers, the conference addresses such topics as sustainable development, poverty alleviation, the state of villages, developing legal institutions, and relations among China, India, and the United States.

Much political and media attention has been focused on the rise of the Indian and Chinese giants recently, a CIDRS press release said.

"This spotlight has motivated increasing numbers of students and future leaders to frequent discussions of China and India," it said.

In response, CIDRS effectively concentrates and highlights the key issues between the two countries, the statement said.

CIDRS is directed by five Harvard undergraduates as a unit of the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations, an official student group of Harvard University.