On January 14, 2008, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Sino-Indian relations face important strategic chances against the background of profound changes in the Asian and international situations as he met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Wen said Prime Minister Singh's current visit was closely followed by the two peoples and the international community. China is ready to exchange views with India on furthering strategic cooperative partnership oriented to peace and prosperity in the new situation.

Singh told the Chinese Premier "India attaches the highest priority to developing cooperative and mutually beneficial relations with China." He said frequent mutual visits by high-level leaders have promoted the development of bilateral relations and are indications of mutual determination to enhance understanding and mutual trust.

Singh arrived in Beijing on the morning of January 13, for his three-day official visit to China, the first since he took office as Indian Prime Minister in 2004. It is also the first visit to China by an Indian prime minister in five years.