In a significant announcement, China on Tuesday said it was committed to developing “strategic partnership” with India while maintaining the good neighborly and friendly relationship. Announcing the three-day India visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi from September six, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said the political and mutual trust between the two countries has deepened since the successful Beijing trip of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in January this year.

She said Yang will meet External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee during his visit to India. He also inaugurates the Chinese consulate office in Kolkata. The spokesperson said China was committed to further developing “strategic partnership” with India as well as maintaining the good neighborly and friendly relationship.