国内英语新闻:Reception held to mark 60th anniversary of China-India ties

Patil told Xinhua that she was "very happy" to visit the two places of historical interest in Beijing.

"India and China are friends and I want to strengthen our friendship," said Patil. "We wish to live together, work together and prosper together."

Patil's week-long visit will also take her to the India Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo and to central China's city of Luoyang, where she will attend a temple ceremony commemorating the arrival of Buddhism from India 2,000 years ago.