'Talks with Chinese leadership fruitful'

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday described her talks with the top Chinese leadership as "very fruitful" as she toured this culturally-rich city in the west of the Communist nation.

"I had the opportunity and privilege to meet with the Chinese leadership and had very fruitful talks, exchanging views on a number of important topics of interest to the two countries," Gandhi said during a meeting with the Communist Party of China (CPC) Secretary of Shaanxi Province, Zhao Leji, here in western China after visiting two historical sites.

"You are the first foreign political leader to visit China after the conclusion of 17th National Congress (of ruling CPC on October 22), which is an indication of importance both of us have attached to our relations," Chinese President Hu Jintao, also General Secretary of the CPC, had told Gandhi during their meeting on Friday.

Noting that she was visiting Xi'an after 19 years, the previous time along with her late husband and Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in December 1988, Gandhi said the city has changed a lot and praised the visionary provincial leadership for the progress.

Warmly welcoming Gandhi and her Congress delegation, including her son and AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, Zhao said he had noted that the delegation had successful meetings with Hu and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing.

After completing her high-profile political engagements in Beijing, Gandhi arrived here last night.

Though the Beijing-Xi'an flight was delayed by over four hours due to inclement weather here, the Gandhi family attended a must-see Tang Dynasty cultural show last night, appreciating the exquisite and colourful costumes and performances by over 100 artistes.