Beijing, May 27: President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, who is on a six-day state visit to China, today met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at Zi guang ge here.
Zi guang ge is Beijing’s iconic Great Hall of the People. It is also known as Hall of Purple Lights.
The purple light prevailed in the hall during the meeting which is seen as a symbol of good luck. The hall is located at Zhong nan hai where homes of China’s President and Prime Minister are situated.
Ms Patil, who arrived in the Chinese capital at the invitation of President Hu Jintao, appreciated the warm welcome she received on her arrival yesterday. She recalled Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to India and the strong role he played in strategic partnership between the two countries. Mr Wen said the visit of Indian President, first in a decade, had assumed great significance in building up further relations between the two nations.
He also said her visit has came at a time when both the countries were celebrating the 60th anniversary year of the establishment of of their diplomatic relationship. Ms Patil would be visiting Beijing, Luoyang and Shanghai during the course of her visit.
She would also inaugurate an Indian style Buddhist temple in White Horse Temple in Luoyang on May 29 and visit Shanghai for two days in the final lap where she would see the Indian and Chinese pavilions at the world exposition and also address an India-Chinese business forum. She would also interact with the Indian community in Shanghai and unveil the bust of poet Rabindranath Tagore.
Ms Patils husband Devisingh Ramsingh Shekhawat, son-in-law Jayesh Rathore and grandson Dhruvesh Rathore also accompanied her.
—-Agencies