Beijing: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is looking forward to an "early visit" to India to further advance the bilateral relations, an official spokesperson said today (Oct 26, 2004).

"Premier Wen Jiabao has expressed appreciation towards the Indian Prime Minister's invitation to visit India," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told reporters in Beijing.

Zhang pointed out that Chinese State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan, who visited India last week, had also conveyed Wen's appreciation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his invitation to visit the country.

"Premier Wen Jiabao is looking forward to an early visit at a convenient time to India," she said, while being non-committal whether the visit will take place within this year itself.

Official sources said that Singh, during Tang's visit to New Delhi, had expressed happiness that Wen will be visiting India at an early date and mentioned that a warm welcome awaited him.

Tang, who oversees China's foreign policy issues, was the senior-most Chinese leader to visit India after the Congress-led UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government came to power earlier this year.

Tang had handed over a letter from Wen to Singh when he called on the Indian leader on October 20.

Zhang also described Tang's October 18-20 visit to India as very "successful" in promoting Sino-India relations.