Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter on Friday to the first meeting of the China-India high-level people-to-people exchanges mechanism that is taking place in India's capital New Delhi.

The establishment of the mechanism was agreed by Xi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting in April in Wuhan in China's central Hubei Province.

The president said in the letter that China-India ties are developing positively and mutual political trust is being further deepened with more practical cooperation and cultural exchanges. 

Sound China-India relations have proven to be beneficial to both countries and the world, Xi added.

He hoped that the two sides will make good use of the high-level people-to-people exchanges mechanism and together build a closer partnership.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi is co-chairing the first meeting of the mechanism with India's Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj from December 21-24.

(Cover: Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) walks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, April 28, 2018. /Xinhua Photo)