A senior Chinese official said China was ready to work with India to promote bilateral relations, according to a news release issued by Chinese Foreign Ministry Tuesday.

The statement said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with Nirupama Rao, the outgoing Indian ambassador to China, Monday.

Yang appreciated Rao's work to advance China-India relations after she took office as ambassador to China and congratulated her on the promotion to the post of Foreign Secretary, according to the release.

Yang hoped Rao could make more efforts to strengthen the friendship of the two countries.

China would like to work with India to intensify exchanges, strengthen mutual trust and expand pragmatic cooperation.

Rao said the advancement of India-China relations was an important part of her future work.

The development of the India-China strategic and cooperative partnership would benefit both countries and peoples and make an essential contribution to regional and world peace and development.

India named Rao as the country's next Foreign Secretary on June 30.

A career diplomat, the 58-year-old Rao had served as Indian envoy to Sri Lanka and the country's first woman spokesperson prior to her posting in Beijing in October 2006.

Rao is scheduled to leave her post this month.

(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2009)