Beijing: Ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India, China welcomed Moscow's "positive" role in maintaining peace and stability in South Asia.

"Russia is an important country that has major influence in the world. We welcome the positive efforts made by Russia to enhance peace and stability in South Asia," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in response to a question on Putin's upcoming visit to India.

Putin, who is currently in Beijing on a two-day state visit, will leave for New Delhi on December 3 after concluding talks with Chinese leadership on regional and international issues of common concern including the Indo-Pak tensions.

Asked for China's stand on a tri-lateral relationship among China, India and Russia, Liu stressed that Beijing had always pursued good relations with its neighbours.

"China has all along pursued friendship and co-operation with its neighbours including Russia and India," he said.

He noted that Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and the Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov had met in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session in September.

The three Foreign Ministers during their informal meeting in September had exchanged views on the questions being examined by the United Nations, Liu recalled.

"We believe that this meeting is conducive to better mutual understanding and confidence," he said.

PTI