China is ready to learn from India and other countries with regard to the establishment of the rule of law, a senior Chinese Communist Party (CPC) official said in Beijing Wednesday.

Zhou Yongkang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remark while meeting with an Indian Supreme Court delegation headed by Chief Justice K. G. Balakrishnan.

Noting that China and India shared a long history of friendship and have many things to learn from each other, Zhou said China was implementing the fundamental principle of rule of law in all aspects.

He said the just concluded 17th National Congress of the CPC had given priority to accelerating the building of a socialist country governed by law. China would develop socialist democracy and rule of law.

Zhou said that as China-India relations had improved and expanded, exchanges between the judicial systems of the two countries also deepened.

He said he believed that the visit by Chief Justice Balakrishnan would further advance exchanges and cooperation between the judicial systems of the two countries.

Balakrishnan expressed admiration for China's achievements in economic and social development. He said India placed importance on its relations with China. The judicial system of India was willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with its Chinese counterpart.

Balakrishnan and his party arrived in Beijing Tuesday for a five-day visit at the invitation of the Supreme People's Court of China.

He met Tuesday with Xiao Yang, president of the Supreme People's Court of China.

(Xinhua News Agency November 8, 2007)