Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convey the Chinese government’s willingness to establish a “robust partnership” with the new government in India for further development of bilateral relations.

After thanking the premier, Prime Minister Modi invited him for a visit to India later this year and underlined New Delhi’s resolve to utilise the full potential of the “strategic and cooperative partnership” between the two Asian powers.

The call by Li came a day after Beijing decided to send its Foreign Minister Wang Yi on June 8 as special envoy to meet the new leadership including External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.