Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee left New Delhi?on Wednesday for China for a three-day official visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.

During his visit, Mukherjee is expected to meet Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and hold talks with Yang Jiechi. He also will give a speech at Peking University and present "Lotus Award" to Professor Ji Xianling of the university for his great contribution to strengthening exchanges of Sino-Indian cultures. The Indian minister will also visit the southern city of Guangzhou to attend the opening ceremony of the Consulate-General of India there.

Before his departure, Mukherjee said that the relations between India and China have been developed rapidly in the past years and the prospect for further development of the relations is unlimited.

The Indian foreign minister said that he is expecting his visit to increase mutual political trust, enhance the communication and cooperation between India and China, deepen substantial cooperation in all fields and push forward the Sino-Indian strategic cooperative partnership.

(Xinhua News Agency June 5, 2008)