24 May 2004	Monday	04 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

BEIJING, May 23: China hopes that the new Indian government would push forward the dialogue process with Pakistan for settlement of their bilateral disputes through peaceful means.

"We hope both Pakistan and India would maintain the momentum of improving their relations," said Liu Jianchao, a senior official of the Chinese foreign ministry.

Talking to APP in Beijing, he said China wished to see good neighbourly relations between Pakistan and India. "We believe the two countries can live together for their mutual benefit," he added.

In response to a question, Mr Liu said India and Pakistan were very important countries in South Asia, and how their relations developed would have a direct impact on peace, stability and development in the region.

For a remarkable period of time, the relations between the two South Asian nations had been improving and developing effectively, Mr Liu acknowledged, adding that China hoped that the two countries could live in harmony, while making due contribution to peace, stability and development in the region.

Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao congratulated Manmohan Singh on his taking office as India's new prime minister, and said China looked forward to working with his government to strengthen bilateral relations.

"I wish to extend, on behalf of the Chinese government and in my own name, our sincere congratulations and best wishes to you," Mr Wen said in a message to Mr Singh, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Mr Wen said he believed that under Mr Singh's leadership India would make new achievements in economic growth and national development.

"The friendship and cooperation between China and India not only accords with both sides' fundamental interests and the shared aspiration of the two peoples, but also contributes to peace, stability and development in the region and the world at large," Mr Wen added.