Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Saturday congratulated Manmohan Singh
on taking office as India's prime minister and said China looks
forward to working with his government to strengthen bilateral
relations.
In a congratulatory message sent to Singh, Wen said, "I wish to
extend, on behalf of the Chinese Government and in my own name, our
sincere congratulations and best wishes to you."
Wen voiced his belief that under Singh's leadership, India will
make new and greater achievements in economic growth and national
development.
China and India have a long history of interactions. Since the
establishment of diplomatic ties, the overall relations between the
two countries have been generally moving forward over the past
fifty-plus years.
At present, the Sino-Indian bilateral relationship faces
important opportunities for further development.
"The friendship and cooperation between China and India not only
accords with both sides' fundamental interests and the shared
aspiration of the two peoples, but also contributes to peace,
stability and development in the region and the world at large,"
Wen said.
"The Chinese side would like to work together with the new
government of India under the guidance of the Five Principles of
Peaceful Coexistence jointly initiated by our two countries so as
to jointly and continuously push forward the long-term constructive
cooperative partnership between China and India," said Wen.
Manmohan Singh was appointed India's next prime minister after
Sonia Gandhi, the Italian-born leader of the country's most
powerful political party, the Congress Party, turned down the
job.
India's new coalition government was sworn in on Saturday.
(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2004)