“You are the first foreign political leader to visit China after the conclusion of 17th National Congress (on October 22 of the ruling CPC), which is an indication of importance both of us have attached to our relations,” Mr Hu, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China told Ms Gandhi during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People.

Mr Hu, who was re-elected as party boss, said that he still had fresh memories of his last visit to India in November last year and vividly remembered the warm reception given by the Indian government and the people of India.

Growing ties
Ms Gandhi also met Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao with both leaders taking note of the growing ties between the two countries.

Both leaders went down the memory lane recalling late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s ground-breaking visit to China in 1988, which normalised Sino-Indian relations.
“Your work and contribution to the friendship between China and India is of great importance,” Mr Jiabao said.
“I still vividly remember when Rajiv Gandhi visited China, you were with him,” he told Ms Gandhi.