Beijing: Ahead of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit, China on June 19 assured its close ally Pakistan that development of relations with India would not affect the traditional Sino-Pak friendship.

It also said that "good relations" between China and Pakistan were not targeted at any third country.

"I would like to point out that the development of relationship with India will not affect the traditional friendship between China and Pakistan," a senior Chinese Foreign Ministry official said.

"On the other hand, the good relations between China and Pakistan are not targeted at any third country," he told reporters briefing on the visit of Vajpayee beginning June 22.

The official said China would like to have a long-term, stable and sound good neighbourly relationship with India and that conforms with China's foreign policy of maintaining friendship and partnership with its neighbours.

"China would like to develop friendly relations and co-operation with all of our neighbours. This is not only in the interest of the respective countries, but also beneficial to maintaining peace and tranquillity in the region," he said.

He also noted that relations between China and Pakistan are "very good" and the two countries have maintained a good momentum of development of bilateral relations.

Asked about the growing ties between India and the US, as well as between India and Israel, the official said that he was not in a position to comment on it.

PTI