The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has extended his greetings and felicitations to the Government and the people of the People's Republic of China on the eve of the 66th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (October 1, 2015).

In his message to His Excellency Mr. Xi Jinping, the President of the People's Republic of China, the President has said, "On behalf of the Government and the people of India and on my own behalf, I have the pleasure to extend to you warm greetings and felicitations on the 66th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

India and China share a mutually beneficial relationship within the framework of the Closer Developmental Partnership that our two countries established during your visit to India last year. We have laid the foundation for the model of a new type of relationship between our two major countries. Over the last year, our relationship has strengthened through continued high-level dialogue, growing economic and commercial ties and enhanced people-to-people exchanges. The simultaneous re-emergence of India and China as two major powers in the region and the world offers a momentous opportunity for the realization of the Asian Century. I am convinced that a relationship based on mutual trust and understanding between India and China will serve the fundamental interests of our two countries respectively and the world at large.

I take this opportunity to convey my best wishes for your good health and for the continued prosperity and the well-being of the people of China”.

This Press Release issued at 1235 hrs.