NEW DELHI, June 7: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Chinese President Hu Jintao on Thursday that China was India's greatest neighbour with which New Delhi desired to have a strong relationship.

Dr Singh's remarks to the Chinese leader on the margins of the G-8 summit in Germany belied reports on Thursday that Beijing had somehow hardened its approach over its claim on Arunachal Pradesh, the north-eastern border of India.

"Our government and I speak for all the people regardless of their political affiliations, want strongest relationship with China. China is our greatest neighbour," Dr Singh said during his 30-minute meeting with President Hu.

Press Trust of India said the comments had injected "a new political dimension to Sino-Indian bilateral ties".

Meeting for the second time in seven months, Dr Singh and Mr Hu touched upon the boundary question but skirted the matter related to Arunachal Pradesh, PTI said.

"It will be and it has been a constant endeavour of my government to do everything in our power to cement our relationship", the prime minister told the Chinese leader.

On his part, Mr Hu responded: "China-India relations have reached a stage of fast-track growth", PTI quoted Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon as saying.

Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Express said that a meeting of the foreign ministers of India and China in Hamburg last week saw Beijing apparently taking a hard line on the Arunachal dispute.

The report quoted Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi telling his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee that the "mere presence" of populated areas would not affect Chinese claims on the boundary.

"It's learnt that Yang's remarks have surprised New Delhi," PTI said.

"For, Article 7 in the agreement between both countries two years ago, clearly indicated the contrary," the Express said. The agreement says, "In reaching a boundary settlement, the two sides shall safeguard due interests of their settled populations in the border areas."

"It's also being seen as a dampener given that India was keen on obtaining a concession on the Chinese claim when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visits China later this year," the Express said.