China on Friday formally conveyed its congratulations to Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi meeting with the Indian Ambassador in Beijing specifically to convey the wishes of President Xi Jinping and the Chinese leadership.
Mr. Wang told Ambassador Ashok Kantha that China was keen “to strengthen” ties with the new government set to take office in New Delhi.
The Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is expected to directly speak to Mr. Modi following his official swearing-in next week.
The Chinese government is keen to reciprocate the fact that India was among the first countries to formally wish the new leadership under President Xi and Premier Li Keqiang following their taking over in March 2013.
In the meeting, Mr. Kantha also expressed India’s “strong condemnation” of Thursday’s terror attack on Urumqi, in western Xinjiang, that left at least 31 people killed, saying India opposed “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”.
