Wen also extended greetings to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the President of the Indian Congress Party Sonia Gandhi.

Menon, who serves as Indian National Security Advisor, delivered Prime Minister Singh's letter to Premier Wen.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (1st R) meets with visiting Indian prime ministerial special envoy Shiv Shankar Menon (1st L), who served as Indian National Security Advisor, in Beijing, capital of China, on July 5, 2010. [Liu Jiansheng/Xinhua]

Menon quoted Singh's saying that China is a great and friendly neighbor of India, and the relationship with China is one of the most important foreign relations for India.

Both India and China have developed rapidly in recent years, and the two nations have established a strategic partnership of cooperation, with increasing mutual trust. Menon said this has laid a sound foundation for strengthening bilateral cooperation.

With the world going through an important development phase, both India and China should take bigger role in directing its course, Menon said.

India would work with China to jointly make development planning and create new situations for the growth of bilateral ties, he noted.

Menon arrived in Beijing Saturday, and is scheduled to conclude his trip on July 6.