Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Indian counterpart Pratibha Patil exchanged congratulatory messages Thursday to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Thanks to the concerted efforts from both sides, bilateral relations between China and India have steadily developed since their establishment of diplomatic relations, Hu said.

In the new century, China and India established a strategic cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity. The two nations have carried out fruitful cooperation in areas such as politics, trade and culture and coordinated closely on international and regional affairs, he said.

Hu said that as emerging developing countries, China and India are facing common tasks and challenges, and share broad common interests and responsibilities as well.

The friendly neighborliness, close cooperation and common development of China and India, Hu said, would benefit not only the two countries but also would be conducive to regional and global peace and development.

(Xinhua News Agency April 1, 2010)