President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday said friendly relations between India and Cote d'Ivoire will "continue to strengthen".In a message to Cote d'Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara, on the country's National Day, Mukherjee said: "I am confident that our close and friendly relations will continue to strengthen in the years ahead.""On behalf of the government, the people of India and on my own behalf, it gives me great pleasure to extend warm greetings and felicitations to you and to the people of Cote d'Ivoire on the occasion of your National Day.""Please accept, my best wishes for your continued well-being as also for the welfare and progress of the friendly people of Cote d'Ivoire," Mukherjee added.Cote d'Ivoire, a former French colony in western Africa, became independent on August 7, 1960.