Newly-elected Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community Paul Berenger on Monday expressed his hope to further boost the relations between the regional bloc and the world's two most populous country, China andIndia.

Also prime minister of Indian Ocean island country Mauritius, Berenger said "SADC has always endeavored to promote dialogue with developing and developed country partners, but there is need for us to strengthen existing dialogues,"

And "in particularly, it is my intention during my tenure as chair to give a new dimension to relations between SADC and India and China." said Berenger.

He just succeeded Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa as SADC's chairperson on Monday at the bloc's annual summit held in Mauritius.

In 2003, India and SADC reached agreement for partnership arrangement with SADC-India Forum. In July 2003, the first ministerial interaction between SADC and India was held in New Delhi.

Formed in 1980, the SADC now groups 13 countries representing about 210 million people: Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Mauritius, Lesotho, Namibia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo,Tanzania South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Seychelles withdrew itself on July 1 due to failure in membership payment.

Source: Xinhua