On the afternoon of January 7, 2003, President Jiang Zemin met with visiting Manohar Joshi, Speaker of the Indian parliament's Lok Sabha (House of the People) at the Great Hall of the People.

Jiang extended welcome to Speaker Joshi on his visit to China. He said that as two biggest developing countries in the world, China and India enjoy a long history of exchanges, and both are dedicated to developing their economies and raising their people's living standard. Jiang said that the two countries share broad consensus in international affairs and China has always held that Sino-Indian relations enjoy a broad prospect. Reaffirming that China attaches great importance to its relations with India, Jiang recalled his visit to India in 1996 during which China and India, agreed to establish constructive partnership of cooperation oriented towards the 21st century. He also voiced his satisfaction with the good momentum of bilateral relations in the recent years.

Jiang briefed Speaker Joshi on the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), indicating China needs a peaceful international environment and favorable surrounding environment in order to reach the targets set at the congress. He also said China will unswervingly uphold an independent  foreign policy of peace, and work hard to maintain world peace and promote common development. He said that China will continue to strengthen friendly relations with its neighbors, go on treating the neighbors with goodwill, and take the neighbors as partners, so as to to push exchanges and cooperation with its neighboring counties to a new high. He noted that China is willing to work with peoples from all countries including India to jointly push ahead the lofty cause of world peace and development.

Joshi thanked Jiang for his meeting. He said India and China, both being ancient civilizations with large populations, are facing similar problems and challenges in the course of rapid economic growth. He said that is why the two countries decided to boost cooperation in various areas and to resolve differences through talks. Joshi noted that India-China relations have gained further advancement in the recent years, and the Indian side wants to see further enhancement of reciprocal cooperation in all fields.

Joshi congratulated on the success of the 16 CPC on the part of the Lok Sabha, and conveyed Indian President Kalam's sincere regards and best wishes to President Jiang. Jiang also asked Joshi to pass on his regards to President Kalam.