There is a reason to believe that China and India will enjoy still closer relations in the future, Zhou Tienong, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said in Beijing Tuesday.

"The two countries have witnessed a sound momentum for the growth of Sino-Indian relations over recent years," said Zhou in a meeting with a delegation of the Indian Nationalist Congress Party led by R. R. Patil, member of the party's working committee and deputy chief minister of Maharashtra in west India.

Patil said his party is willing to further promote its friendly relations with the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The delegation arrived here Saturday on a week-long visit to China at the invitation of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.