China today said it attaches high importance to relations with India and is ready to work with the new Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen cooperation and contribute to the peace and progress of Asia and the world.
This was conveyed during a meeting between Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Indian Ambassador to China Ashok Kumar Kantha here to discuss bilateral ties.
Yang assured Kantha of the "high importance" China attaches to ties, state-run Xinhua News agency reported.
"China attaches high importance to relations with India and is ready to work with the new Indian government to maintain high-level contact, strengthen cooperation and communication in all areas, keep the good momentum in developing bilateral ties, and contribute to the peace and progress of Asia and the world," Yang told Kantha.
Kantha responded by saying India's new government will continue a friendly policy with China and is looking forward to close cooperation with Beijing to promote continuous development of the India-China strategic partnership of cooperation, the report said.
Yang also conveyed Chinese leaders' congratulations to Modi.
Yesterday, Premier Li Keqiang said China views India as a "natural cooperative partner" and it is ready to work with the new government to take their strategic cooperative partnership to a "new level".
Congratulating Modi on being sworn in as India's 15th Prime Minister, the Chinese Premier said, "China and India are important neighbours to each other and the top two emerging markets in the world. China-India relations have moved beyond the bilateral scope and taken on global and strategic significance.
