Modi and Kim Jong-un congratulate Chinese President Xi on reelection

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated Chinese President Xi Jinping for securing a second term as the head of the ruling Communist Party, saying he looks forward to further promote India-China ties together.

“Congratulations to President Xi on getting re-elected as CPC General Secretary. Look forward to further promote India-China ties together,” Modi said in his message on popular Chinese microblog Weibo which is akin to Twitter. Modi's message was posted both in English and Mandarin.

Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has also congratulated Chinese President Xi Jinping for his re-election as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, the state-media said on Thursday.

Kim applauded Xi for the successful conduct of the 19th Congress of the CPC, through a message sent on Wednesday, in which he wished the President well in pursuing the objectives laid down during the event, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) report said.

Xi was formally handed a second term in power and his doctrine was written into the party constitution, elevating him on par with modern China's founder Chairman Mao Zedong and his successor Deng Xiaoping.

Modi's message comes amid diplomatic efforts by the two sides to overcome the bitterness caused by the 73-day face-off between their troops in the Dokalam area of the Sikkim sector.

The Chinese and the Indian troops were engaged in a standoff since June 16 after the Indian side stopped the construction of a road by the Chinese Army.

Relations between China and N Korea, the two historic allies are also strained after the recent weapons tests by the North Korean regime, including its sixth and most powerful nuclear test on September 7 and launch of two intercontinental missiles, which have led to new, stronger sanctions by the UNs, with China's support.

China, which Pyongyang depends on for practically all of its trade, has also imposed separate measures like shutting down North Korean companies that have a presence in Beijing, a general ban on textile imports from Pyongyang and limits on its supply of petroleum.

With inputs from PTI and IANS