Wang to focus on pushing bilateral ties during India visit

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is visiting India this weekend, will focus on pushing forward bilateral ties to a "new level" and seize opportunities presented by the assumption of power by the new Narendra Modi-led government.

Wang will be in New Delhi on a two-day visit from June 8 as a Special Representative of President Xi Jinping, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei announced at a media briefing here today.

"This is the first contact between the two governments after the Indian elections. During his visit, Wang will meet leading Indian officials and hold talks with India's new foreign minister Sushma Swaraj," Hong said.

"They will have in-depth exchanges on how to push forward bilateral relations," he said.Asked whether he will meet Modi, Hong said the Foreign Minister's itinerary is still being worked out.

"India has formed a new government and China and India now face a new opportunities of development.

 China is ready to work with the Indian side to seize the opportunity and push our strategic and cooperative partnership to a new level," Hong said.

In recent years, the strategic and cooperative partnership between China and India had sound and steady improvement, he said.

"Our exchanges and cooperation in various fields has been promoted. We have sustained good coordination in international and regional affairs," Hong said. 

This year is being marked as the 'Year of China-India friendly exchanges' and also the 60th year of Panchasheel, the five principles for peaceful coexistence pronounced in 1954 by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his then Chinese counterpart Zhou Enlai, Hong noted.

Wang is also expected to press for the presence of a high-level Indian dignitary at the Panchasheel 60th anniversary function planned for June 28 here.

Besides Xi, Myanmar President Thein Sein was expected to take part in the function, which China would like to project as its commitment for peace amid deepening conflicts with several of its neighbours over maritime disputes involving  South and East China seas.