Manmohan Singh tells President Xi Jinping that China occupies 'high priority' for India

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, met Chinese President Xi Jinping on his three-day visit in Beijing on Wednesday, and told him that China occupies a very high priority in India's foreign policy.

After conveying President Pranab Mukherjee and Congress President Sonia Gandhi's good wishes, Dr. Singh told President Xi Jinping that the leadership welcomed the interest shown by the Chinese leaders on developing relations with India.

"Our relationship with China occupies a very high priority in India's foreign policy. We also welcome the interest the new leadership has shown in further developing relations with India," Dr. Singh said.

Dr. Singh met President Xi Jinping at the Diaoyutai state guesthouse where the two shook hands and attended a meeting where both Indian and Chinese delegations were present.

Earlier today, Dr. Singh met his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang and the two oversaw the signing of nine agreements aimed at boosting bilateral relations.

Officials from China and India signed strong agreements on border defence cooperation, memorandums of understanding on strengthening cooperation on trans-border rivers, and roads and transport.

The Prime Minister arrived in Beijing on Tuesday and is scheduled to return to India on Thursday.

This is the Prime Minister's second visit to Beijing. Dr. Singh had previously visited China in January 2008.