China will work with India to push forward the bilateral long-term constructive and cooperative partnership, said Chinese Vice Premier Huang Ju at a meeting in Beijing Wednesday with former Indian President Kocheril Raman Narayanan.

Huang said China and India are neighbors and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence initiated by the two countries have provided an important guarantee for the sound development of bilateral ties.

He spoke highly of Narayanan's contributions to bilateral relations and cooperation.

Narayanan, who is in Beijing as guest of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs to attend the International Seminar on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, mentioned the rapid development of bilateral relations in recent years.

He said he believes that bilateral relations will progress under the guidance of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and he will continue to make his own efforts to this end.

(Xinhua News Agency June 17, 2004)