Beijing: The sweeping leadership changes in China this week will not change Beijing's policy of developing good-neighbourly relations with India and in fact will give a fresh opportunity to both governments to enhance mutual trust and strengthen bilateral ties, experts said.

"The new Chinese leadership will pursue the present policy of good-neighbourliness towards India and I am confident about the future prospects," former Chinese Ambassador to India, Cheng Ruisheng, said.

Cheng said he was "satisfied" with the progress made in bilateral ties which has seen frequent exchange of visits at all levels during recent times.

He said China was eagerly looking forward to the visits by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Defence Minister George Fernandes, which would greatly enhance Sino-Indian relations.

China's 'third generation' of leaders led by President Jiang Zemin retired at the 16th National Congress of the ruling Communist Party which concluded in Beijing on November 15. Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao succeeded Jiang as the general secretary of the party.

The entire standing committee of the politburo, the top decision-making body of the party, also drastically changed.

Apart from Jiang, Parliament Chief Li Peng and Premier Zhu Rongji also retired from the top decision-making body.

Jiang, Li and Zhu have made successful visits to India in 1996, 2001 and 2002, respectively.

PTI