China cool to Noda’s India visit

China welcomes mutual visits between India and Japan and wants to "actively develop" relations with both countries, foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in Beijing on Wednesday as Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda continued his three-day state visit to India.

Noda's trip to India follows his two-day visit to Beijing, and the Chinese reaction to this has been watched closely.

Hong told a news conference that during Noda's visit, China and Japan reached an important consensus on promoting a mutually beneficial strategic partnership.

"Both China and Japan think peaceful coexistence, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development are in the interests of the people of the two countries, and peace, stability and development of the region," Hong said.

He said Sino-Indian relations had maintained a good development momentum.

"We think China and India should maintain political mutual trust, coordination and cooperation in economic, trade and international affairs," he said.