BEIJING, July 27: China hopes to play a “constructive role” to promote peace and rapprochement between India and Pakistan, and has no “hidden agenda” in South Asia against any country, a senior Chinese foreign ministry official said in Beijing.

China does not seek any hidden agenda in South Asia and “our developing friendly cooperation” with South Asian countries is not directed at any third country,” director general of Asian department of the Chinese foreign ministry Fu Ying said.

China is ready to play a constructive role to promote peace and development in South Asia, she said.

Fu said that during the recent visit to China by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Chinese leaders stated that as a common friend and neighbour of both India and Pakistan, China “desires to see easing of India-Pakistan relations” and that China “supports all efforts to eliminate tension and preserve peace in South Asia.”

In an interview to the latest edition of World Affairs, an official publication, she allayed India’s apparent fears on China’s steadily growing influence in South Asia.

She pointed out that South Asia is an important part of Asia and that without peace and stability in South Asia, “one cannot talk about progress and development of Asia as a whole.”—APP