India is an important neighbour, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Monday and stressed that the main aim of his visit was to increase areas of mutual interest and intensify cooperation.
"India is China's important neighbour. (The purpose of) my current visit to India is three-fold -- to increase mutual interest, intensify cooperation and to face the future," Li said outside Rastrapathi Bhavan in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Chinese leader arrived in India Sunday on his first overseas tour since he took office in March. On Monday, both sides are to hold formal talks.
Li is heading an 80-member delegation that includes Foreign Minister Wang Yi. On Tuesday he will go to Mumbai, from where he will go to Pakistan, Switzerland and Germany.
Li had last visited India 27 years ago as the head of a youth delegation and has said he has fond memories of that trip.