President greets China on 66th foundation day

President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday greeted the government and people of China on the 66th anniversary of their foundation day.

"On behalf of the government and people of India and on my own behalf, I have the pleasure to extend warm greetings and felicitations on the 66th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China," Mukherjee said in his message to Xi Jinping, president of China.

"India and China share a mutually beneficial relationship within the framework of developmental partnership that the two countries established during your visit to India last year. We have laid the foundation of a new type of relationship between the two countries," he said.

Mukherjee said, "Over the last year, our relationship has strengthened through continued high-level dialogue, growing economic and commercial ties and enhanced people-to-people exchanges.

The simultaneous re-emergence of India and China as two major powers in the region and the world offers a momentous opportunity for the realisation of the Asian century", Mukherjee said.

"I am convinced that a relationship based on mutual trust and understanding will serve the fundamental interests of our two countries respectively and the world at large. I take this opportunity to convey my best wishes for your good health and for the continued prosperity and the well-being of the people of China," he added.