Beijing, January 15: A Chinese expert on South Asia described Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who Tuesday ended a three-day visit to Beijing, as a "highly regarded and respected" political leader.

Rong Ying, director of the South Asian Studies here, told Chinese television channel CCTV that the Indian prime minister was so regarded not just in his country but also abroad. Rong also described as "very significant" the fact that India's ruling coalition chose Manmohan Singh as prime minister in 2004 although he came from the minority Sikh community.

Rong referred to the bloody decade-long Sikh separatist campaign and also the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984 to explain the significance of a Sikh occupying the most important post in New Delhi.

Asked to explain the significance of Manmohan Singh's maiden trip to the Chinese capital, Rong said the Indian leader had developed a warm relationship with his Chinese counterparts.

On economic reforms, he said Manmohan Singh "shared knowledge with our leaders", adding that the premiers of India and China "shared some chemistry". "The atmosphere ... the discussions were very good (at the private dinner hosted for Manmohan Singh)," he added.