China's ruling Communist Party on Tuesday congratulated Rahul Gandhi [Images] on his appointment as Congress general secretary and expressed keenness to further cement party-to-party relations.

"We would like to extend our congratulations to the newly appointed general secretary of the Indian National Congress," vice-minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Zhang Zhijun, said.

"The Indian National Congress is a very important political force in the political arena of India. We highly appreciate the Indian National Congress for the role it has played in safeguarding the friendly relations between China and India and promoting the cooperation between the two countries," Zhang said.

He said the CPC maintained sound inter-party relations with major political parties in India, including the Congress.

"We believe that inter-party exchanges have become a crucial part of relations between the two countries," he said.

"The CPC is also willing to strengthen exchanges, enhance mutual understanding, promote friendship with major political parties in India so as to drive forward our comprehensive relations so that we can make more contribution to the deepening of our strategic cooperative partnership between China and India which will be beneficial to the two countries, the two peoples, peace, stability, development of the region," Zhang added.

The senior CPC official also confirmed that Congress president Sonia Gandhi [Images] would  visit China at the invitation of Chinese President and CPC general secretary Hu Jintao. The date of the high-level visit was not revealed.