(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-10-26 23:43

BEIJING -- China and India voiced their commitment to handle bilateral relations at a strategic level and step up the partnership to a higher level.

India's ruling Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi (L) with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, October 26, 2007. Gandhi met with China's top leaders on a visit widely seen as a sign of improving relations between the world's two most populous nations. [Agencies]

The consensus was reached during the visiting Indian Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi's meetings with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao here on Friday.

The Chinese President said that China-India relations have developed in depth and enjoyed good momentum in recent years, noting that long-term friendship, cooperation with mutual benefits and common development between the two nations will change Asia and the world "in a profound way".

Hu, who is also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that the CPC and Chinese government always handle the bilateral relations at a strategic level and in a global perspective and would like to join hands with the Indian side to to enhance the ties.

Hu said the CPC adheres to four principles in developing ties with other political parties, namely independence, complete equality, mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

"We will continue to boost exchanges and cooperation with various Indian political parties including the Congress Party," Hu told Sonia Gandhi. He also called for strengthening friendly exchanges between politicians of the two parties and two countries, especially young politicians, to contribute to all-round development of the China-India strategic partnership.

Sonia Gandhi, who is also leader of the Indian United Progressive Alliance, congratulated Hu on his reelection as CPC party chief at the just-concluded 17th CPC National Congress.

She said that she is very impressed by the remarkable achievements China has made in various sectors and expressed her satisfaction with the current development of bilateral relations and expansion of the two-way cooperation in various fields such as in trade.

The Indian Congress Party highly values its ties with the CPC and hopes to work with the CPC to boost exchanges and cooperation between the two parties, Sonia Gandhi added.

In the meeting between Wen and Sonia Gandhi, the Chinese Premier hailed the stable growth of China-India ties and expansion of bilateral cooperation in recent years, saying that China is pleased to see the good momentum in the development of bilateral relations.

"China and India are close neighbors, friends and partners," Wen said, stressing that the friendship, cooperation and common prosperity between the two most populous and also biggest developing countries are vital to the peace and stability of the world.

"China expects to see a prosperous India and will make efforts to boost mutual trust, cooperation and promote common development, " Wen said.

Sonia Gandhi voiced agreement with Wen's comment on bilateral relations and said that the Indian side is willing to make joint efforts with China to strengthen friendly relations between the two countries and promote bilateral exchanges among the two peoples, especially among the youths.

Sonia Gandhi is in China for a five-day visit at the invitation of the CPC.

Besides Beijing, Sonia Gandhi will visit Xi'an, capital of northwestern Shaanxi Province, and China's economic hub Shanghai.