President Hu Jintao met with L.K. Advani, leader of the
Opposition in the House of the People of Indian Parliament in New
Delhi Wednesday.
Hu said Indian former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee paid a
successful visit to China in 2003 when India's Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) (Indian People's Party) led the government, and China
highly appreciated his contribution to the bilateral relations.
China is willing to work together with India to improve
political mutual trust, expand cooperation in regional and
international issues and further build up the strategic
partnership, he said.
The Communist Party of China (CPC) places importance on the
friendship with the BJP, now the major opposition party and an
important political force in India, he said.
Hu hoped the CPC and the BJP will enhance exchanges and work
together for a better China-India relations.
Advani said that the BJP admired China's commitment to the
development of India-China relations and believed that the
bilateral ties will become better and better with joint
efforts.
Hu also delivered a speech here Wednesday entitled "Working
together to expand cooperation and create a bright future."
He is expected to visit India's economic hub Mumbai in southwest
India.
Hu started the state visit Monday as Indian President Abdul
Kalam's guest.
This is the first visit to India by Chinese head of state in 10
years.
India is the third leg of Hu's four-nation tour, which has
already taken him to Vietnam and Laos, and will also take him to
Pakistan.
He also attended the 14th APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation) Economic Leaders' Meeting from November 17 to 19 in
Hanoi, capital of Vietnam.
(Xinhua News Agency November 23, 2006)
