(Translation)

H.E. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, 
President of the Republic of India
New Delhi

Your Excellency,

   On the occasion of the New Year's Day of 2006, I wish to extend, on behalf of the Chinese Government and people and in my own name, our warm congratulations and best wishes to you, and through you, to the Indian Government and people.

   China and India are friendly neighboring countries linked by common mountains and rivers. Our two peoples have a long history of friendship. Since the establishment of our diplomatic ties, thanks to our concerted efforts, the bilateral relations have been continuously brought to a still higher level. China and India announced to establish a Strategic and Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in 2005. It symbolizes that the bilateral relations have entered a new stage of development. Our two sides also declared 2006 as the "Year of China-India Friendship", reflecting the mutual wishes of the two governments and peoples to strengthen friendly and good-neighborly relations, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and promote common development.

   China and India are major developing countries with great influence in the world. An everlasting China-India friendship not only serves the fundamental interests of our two countries and peoples, but also contributes to peace, stability and development in Asia and the entire world. In the coming new year, the Chinese side is ready to work together with the Indian side, take the "Year of China-India Friendship" as an opportunity, carry forward the traditional friendship between our two countries, strengthen dialogues, exchanges and cooperation in all fields and at all levels, continuously deepen the contents of the bilateral relations, and push forward the China-India strategic and cooperative partnership in an all-round and in-depth way.

   May the Republic of India enjoy prosperity and your people well-being.

   May the friendship between the Chinese and Indian people grow with each passing day and pass on from generation to generation.

 

Hu Jintao
      
                   President of the People's Republic of China

 Beijing, 1 January 2006