BEIJING, March 18: Sino-Pakistan friendship will not be affected by the USA's role in the region, said a spokesman of the Chinese Foreign office at weekly news briefing here on Thursday.

He reiterated China's deep-rooted friendship with Pakistan, when a foreign correspondent sought his comment on a reported statement issued by US Secretary of State Colin Powell that the US might make a notification to the Congress, designating Pakistan as a major non-NATO Ally for purpose of their future military to military relationship.

The spokesman said he did not see any impact of such a statement on the decades's old friendly relations between the two countries. About Mr Powell's visit to the South Asia, including Pakistan, the spokesman said China was looking forward a constructive and positive role of USA in the region." -APP