Beijing: In a further sign of the warming up of India-China relations, senior officials of the two sides are to hold the first-ever policy planning consultations to enhance mutual trust and expand coordination on major international issues like the post-war situation in Iraq and the North Korean nuclear crisis.

Noting that the it would be the first time for China and India to hold the policy planning consultations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said that the two sides would discuss the current international situation, regional 'hot spots' and issues of common concern.

Zhang pointed out that China and India are both developing countries and the two neighbouring nations have similar or identical stand on many international issues.

She expressed the hope that the first policy planning consultations would further boost the good- neighbourly and constructive cooperative relations between China and India in the new century.

Such a relationship, Zhang said would be beneficial to safeguard peace and promote common development. "The meeting is significant since China has initiated policy planning consultations with only a handful of countries so far," official sources said ahead of the meeting scheduled to be held in Delhi this week.

"This is an useful exercise," a senior diplomatic source said, adding the post-war situation in Iraq, the North Korean nuclear issue would be discussed.

India could also brief the Chinese side about its recent initiatives to restore full-fledged diplomatic ties with Pakistan, he said.

PTI