Congress president Sonia Gandhi [Images] on Friday met Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao with both leaders taking note of the steadily growing ties between the two countries.

As both Sonia and Wen met in Beijing [Images] at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound, they went down memory lane recalling late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's ground-breaking visit to China in 1988, which normalised Sino-Indian relations.

"Your work and contribution to the friendship between China and India is of great importance," Wen, also a member of the all-powerful politburo standing committee of the ruling Communist Party of China, said.

"I still vividly remember when Rajiv Gandhi visited China, you were with him," Wen said noting that Rajiv met with top Chinese leaders, including late Deng Xiaoping.

Deng had told Rajiv that without the development of China and India, the next century could not be called the 'Century of Asia.'

Describing the late Indian leader as an "outstanding statesman," the Chinese premier said that Rajiv had made contribution not only to India, but also to the strengthening of Sino-Indian relations.

Sonia was accompanied by her son Rahul, whom she introduced to the Chinese premier as party general secretary.

Responding to Wen's warm remarks, Sonia said: "I remember the historic visit when my husband came here. From then on, the relationship between the two countries has been growing stronger," she said.

The Chinese premier also said he still had fresh memories of his meetings with Sonia when he visited India in 2005 and they talked about culture and history.

Senior Congress leader Karan Singh and Union Ministers Prithviraj Chavan and Anand Sharma and Indian Ambassador to China Nirupama Rao were also present at the meeting.

Earlier, the delegation visited the Capital Museum in Beijing, where Sonia was shown glimpses of Chinese history and culture.

Her first political meeting on Friday was with the Minister of the International Department of the CPC Wang Jiarui.

Both Sonia and Jiarui discussed party-to-party ties. Sonia will meet Chinese President Hu Jintao later on Friday.

She will also meet politburo member Liu Qi and former Chinese foreign minister Huang Hua, who had played a major role in fostering bilateral ties in the early stages of Sino-Indian relations.

Besides Beijing, Sonia will also visit Xian, one of China's ancient capitals in northwest China and Shanghai, the Communist giant's gleaming commercial hub in the east.

Photograph: Frederic J Brown/AFP/Getty Images