Chinese Premier Li Keqiang today called up his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. (File photo)
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi invited Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday to visit India, seeking greater engagement between the world's two most populous nations on trade and regional security.
Mr Modi extended the invitation when he spoke by telephone with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who had called to congratulate him on his victory in India's general election, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. He also invited his Chinese counterpart.
According to an official statement from the Prime Minister's Office in New Delhi, the Chinese Premier conveyed his government's desire to "establish robust partnership with the new government in India for further development of relations between the two nations". (
Narendra Modi Speaks to China's Premier Li Keqiang: Official Press Release)
PM Modi thanked Li for the greetings. He said "China was always a priority in India's foreign policy" and underlined the Indian government's resolve to "utilise the full potential of our strategic and cooperative partnership with China". (
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Speaks to PM Modi, Talks of Establishing Robust Partnership)
He also expressed his "keenness to work with the Chinese leadership to deal with any outstanding issues in our bilateral relations by proceeding from the strategic perspective of our developmental goals and long-term benefits to our peoples" and "welcomed greater economic engagement between the two countries".
No official statement was issued in Beijing. The last Chinese head of state to visit India was Hu Jintao in 2012.
Mr Modi invited South Asian leaders to his inauguration on Monday, turning the event into an informal regional summit. He is keen to rebalance relations between New Delhi and Beijing that have long been marked by suspicion.
China's closest ally in the region is Pakistan, whose prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, attended the inauguration.
China and India fought a brief Himalayan war in 1962 that India lost. Tensions have occasionally flared on their common border, which runs for a total of nearly 3,400 km (2,100 miles) and is still partly in dispute.
India runs a $40 billion bilateral trade deficit with China, and Prime Minister Modi is expected to seek greater market access to reduce that gap.