On the evening of Oct.1, Chinese Ambassador Hua Junduo and his wife hosted grand National Day reception to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Rao Inderjit Singh attended the reception on behalf of the Government of India. The reception was also attended by some 500 people including former President of India K. R. Narayanan, CPI (M) General Secretary H. S. Surjeet along with Indian government officials and friendly personages from the circles of politics, economy, culture and media, diplomatic envoys and diplomats in India, representatives of Chinese companies, news agencies, Chinese students in India, Chinese Indians and overseas Chinese.

At the reception, the guests shared the festival sentiment of the hosts. The Ambassador and Mrs. Hua briefed Minister Singh and his wife and other distinguished Indian guests on the 4th Plenary of the 16th CPC Central Committee, the development and great achievements of the construction of a well-off society in an all-round way by the Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC in the past 55 years, especially since the reform and opening up. They also expressed their heartfelt thanks for the positive contributions of the Indian government and friendly personages from all walks of life to the development of Sino-Indian relations. Ambassador Hua and Minister Singh expressed happiness and encouragement on the good momentum of the development of the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries and hoped cooperation in various fields between the two countries could continue to develop rapidly.

The guests congratulated the hosts on the 55th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, expressed heartfelt admiration for the rapid development of China's economy and all-round development of Chinese society, and spoke highly of the development of China-India relations and the fruits of economic and trade cooperation. They wished a more thriving and prosperous China, constantly deepened Sino-Indian friendly and cooperative relationship as well as long-lasting friendship between the two peoples.