On October 25, 2008, Chinese President Hu Jintao met at the Great Hall of the People with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is here for the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

During the meeting, Hu said China and India had maintained sound relations with frequent exchanges of visits and contacts. Both sides have advanced practical cooperation in all areas, expanded economic and trade cooperation, and collaborated in the international and regional affairs, Hu said. “We are satisfied with the outcome achieved in the development of bilateral ties,” he said.

"Both China and India are major developing nations in Asia, and developing good-neighborly friendly relations of long-term stability had long been Chinese government's set policy and strategic decision," Hu said. He urged both sides to view and handle their ties from a far-sighted, strategic and long-term perspective, constantly expand the meeting points of common interests and properly deal with each other’s concerns, in a bid to push China-India ties to a new level.

Hu said China and India were populous developing countries facing the common task of improving their economy and people's living standard. He added that both sides shared the common interests as well as common or similar positions and proposals on coping with issues including the financial crisis, climate change, energy resources, food security and the Doha round talks. China would collaborate with India in international and regional issues for the interests of the two countries and their peoples and for the just rights and interests of developing nations, he said.

Expressing satisfaction with the sound development of bilateral ties in recent years, Singh said India would continuously enhance strategic and cooperative partnership with China in accordance with a declaration signed in 2006. India hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in regional and global affairs and contribute to peace and development of Asia and the world at large.

The two sides also exchanged views on the international financial crisis, agreeing to coordinate more closely to promote the global economic and financial stability.

State Councilor Dai Bingguo attended the meeting.