Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Indian President Pratibha Patil both called for enhanced cooperation between the two countries?in?New Delhi?on Thursday.

During their meeting, Wen said that a stable and prosperous India not only benefits the Indian people, but also is conducive to peace and development in the region and the world as a whole.

The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which were initiated by China and India, are still of great significance to the development of the current Sino-Indian relations, he added.

The Chinese premier, who arrived here on Wednesday for an official three-day visit, also expressed the hope that the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Sino-Indian diplomatic ties would become a new starting point for the development of the relations.

China is willing to work together with India, from a strategic height and a long-term perspective, to push for more fruitful cooperation between the two sides in various fields including politics, economy, science and technology, and culture so as to realize common prosperity, he said.

Patil said her visit to China in May this year had been very successful.

She said she hoped people of the two countries will be friends from generation to generation, which is the basis for the development of bilateral relations.

She stressed that Premier Wen's visit, which comes as the two countries are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, is very important.

The Indian president also expressed the hope that both sides will stick to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and jointly promote friendship and cooperation.

India is the first leg of Premier Wen's two-nation tour. He is also to pay an official visit to Pakistan beginning Friday.