Saturday, May 7 2005 15:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (May 7, 2005) congratulated his British counterpart Tony Blair on winning a third term in office and said a "very warm welcome" awaited him in India when he comes here on an official visit to carry forward the Indo-UK dialogue process.

"It gives me great pleasure to greet you on your handsome victory and in having won a historic third term in office. My warmest congratulations on this very impressive achievement," Singh said in a message to Blair.

I look forward to "continue working closely with you to develop the strategic partnership between the UK and India, the broad contours of which we set out during our meeting in London last year (2004)," he said.

Singh said that he also hoped to take the dialogue process forward and added "We will also have fuller opportunity to look at all aspects of our bilateral relationship when you come to New Delhi in September. A very warm welcome awaits you here".