On the evening of December 15, 2010, visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao attended a banquet hosted in his honor by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his official residence.

Wen said he was very glad to visit India once again after his previous visit to the country five years ago and thanked for Prime Minister Singh’s warm hospitality. He also congratulated India on its new achievements in economic and social development. Wen said recent years had witnessed enriched contents of the Sino-Indian relations, whose influence is on the rise. The relationship between China and India not only benefits the two peoples, but also is of great significance to peace and development in Asia and the world as a whole. He noted that the year 2010 marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and India. He expressed the hope that his visit would promote mutual trust and push for greater development in bilateral cooperation and exchanges in various areas, raising the Sino-Indian strategic and cooperative partnership to a new level.

Singh extended his warm welcome to Premier Wen. Singh said India attaches great importance to relations with China and cherishes friendship with the Chinese people. He expressed the belief that through concerted efforts by both sides, the visit by Premier Wen would become a new milestone in the history of the development of bilateral ties.

Both leaders also had an extensive and in-depth exchange of views on major issues of common concern.

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and other Chinese accompanying officials as well as Indian political dignitaries including Speaker of the Lok Sabha Meira Kumar, Indian Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna attended the banquet.