Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong met in Beijing Tuesday with former Indian President Kocheril Raman Narayanan.

Zeng called Narayanan an old friend of the Chinese people and said he highly valued his contribution to developing the bilateral relations between China and India.

Both big developing countries which have cultivated ancient civilizations, Zeng said, China and India are now faced with shared tasks in maintaining peace and developing economy.

China and India advocated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, Zeng said, adding that he believes the bilateral relations would be further enhanced under the guidance of the five principles.

Narayanan said the Indian-Chinese friendship meets the interests of both countries and the two peoples.

He said he hopes the current relationship would be pushed forward.

Narayanan is here at the invitation of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs to attend the International Seminar on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

He is also scheduled to visit other places besides Beijing.

Source: Xinhua