Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday wound up her visit to China, becoming the first world leader to meet the newly-elected Chinese leadership and renewing Sino-Indian friendship, which her late husband, Rajiv, had given an impetus 19 years ago.
Gandhi met Chinese President Hu Jintao, who was re-elected as the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China on October 22.
''You are the first foreign political leader to visit China after the conclusion of 17th National Congress (on October 22), which is an indication of importance both of us have attached to our relations,'' Hu told Gandhi during their meeting in Shanghai.
Again, in Shanghai, China's commercial capital, Gandhi was the first foreign dignitary to meet the new Communist Party Secretary, Yu Zhengsheng, who was appointed to the post only on Saturday.
Both Hu and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao were effusive in their praise for late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, describing him as an ''outstanding statesman,'' who had made contribution not only to India but also to the strengthening of Sino-Indian relations.
Rajiv Gandhi, along with Sonia had paid a groundbreaking visit to China in December 1988, which normalised Sino-Indian relations after the setbacks in 1962.
''Sonia has visited the political capital and we have also visited the cultural capital, Xian and we are also visiting the commercial capital, Shanghai and has met with the top most Chinese leadership,'' said senior Congress Party leader, Karan Singh.
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