WASHINGTON, Nov 28: The United States has rejected the suggestion that during Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit China had agreed to help Pakistan develop nuclear weapons.

At a State Department briefing, an Indian reporter had suggested that China might have secretly agreed to assist Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack rejected the suggestion, indicating that the US saw no cause for alarm in further cementing of close, friendly ties between Pakistan and China.

“As for any sort of nuclear angle on this, I'm not aware of anything new that was announced or is allowed for by these agreements” signed during the visit, Mr McCormack said.

He said there was no nuclear agreement between Pakistan and China “other than what was already grandfathered in by the Nuclear Suppliers Group.”

During his visit, President Hu promised continuing cooperation with Pakistan in the nuclear field, but stopped short of making the much-speculated announcement about helping to build six nuclear power reactors.

“So I don't think there's anything new on that front,” said the State Department spokesman.