BEIJING, Jan 22: China assured Pakistan on Tuesday that its traditional friendship would not be hurt by warming ties with India.

The assurance came in the wake of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit earlier this month.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said improved ties with New Delhi were in the interests of the region.

“China and India are both big developing countries. To improve relations and strengthen cooperation is in the interests of both countries and in the interests of regional stability, prosperity and development,” she told a news conference.

Closer cooperation, which included a first joint anti-terrorism exercise last month and bilateral trade that soared 56 per cent to $38.6 billion last year, would not leave Pakistan out in the cold, Ms Jiang said.

“Pakistan is China’s strategic partner and China attaches great importance to China-Pakistan relations,” she said. “China will make joint efforts with Pakistan to deepen our bilateral strategic partnership.”—Reuters