The Left parties of India have expressed confidence in the improvement of Sino-Indian relations and praised China's 'great leap forward' under the leadership of the ruling Communist Party of China, poised to elect a new Chinese leadership till 2012.

In a congratulatory message to the ruling CPC on the convening of its 17^th National

Congress, the Communist Party of India-Marxist on Thursday said it was confident that bilateral ties will continue to improve and eventually contribute in bringing peace and stability in the region.

The CPI-M extended its 'warm fraternal communist greetings' to the ongoing CPC Congress, the party said in a statement.

The CPC's 'firm adherence to the socialist path remains a source of inspiration for the people struggling worldwide for an exploitation-free society,' the CPI-M said.

The CPI-M has been keenly following the developments taking place in China, it said, noting that the 'impressive economic advances made by China' since 1978 are 'receiving worldwide attention,' the statement said.

In a separate message, Communist Party of India general secretary A B Bardhan said the CPC, under the guidance of the Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of 'Three Represents' and the Scientific Outlook on Development, has united and led the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in building socialism with Chinese characteristics, and has made tremendous achievements in various fields.

Under the leadership of the CPC, China has yielded big results in the progress of socialist modernisation, and has attained the major goals set forth by the last Congress, he said.