A reception was held in Beijing on Thursday to celebrate the
55th anniversary of the founding of China-India Friendship
Association.
Addressing the occasion, Jiang Zhenghua, vice-chairman of the
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and president
of the association, said the two countries enjoy traditional
good-neighborly relations. Chinese President Hu Jintao's successful
visit to India last year had further promoted bilateral strategic
partnership of cooperation to a new stage.
The association, as one of the earliest diplomatic organizations
founded in China, has sponsored lots of bilateral exchange programs
which helped to cement the friendship between the two peoples,
Jiang said.
Under the new circumstances, the association would carry out
more activities in various forms in a bid to enhance mutual trust
between the two countries, he added.
Indian ambassador to China Nirupama Rao vowed to work closely
with the association to beef up bilateral personnel exchanges and
strengthen cooperation in various fields.
Founded in May of 1952, the association aims to promote mutual
understanding and friendship between the two peoples and facilitate
bilateral cooperation in diversified areas including politics,
economy, trade and culture.
(Xinhua News Agency November 23, 2007)
