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)