PM Modi wishes Chinese people on Lunar New Year

Beijing, Feb 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today wished Chinese people on the first day of the Lunar New Year, expressing hope that bilateral ties would be further strengthened in the new year.

"As the Year of the Monkey commences, my heartiest New Year greetings to you and your loved ones. May this year bring peace, prosperity and joy in your lives," Prime Minister posted on his Weibo account.

Sina Weibo is a Chinese micro-blogging website similar to Twitter.

"May this year further strengthen the strong relations between India and China. I particularly hope our people-to- people ties deepen even more in the years to come," he said.

He also shared some pictures of his visit to China last year.

Today marks the first day of the Year of the Monkey, the ninth animal on the Chinese zodiac calendar. It is the country's most important holiday, equivalent to Christmas for many in the West.

PTI