Beijing: China today (Nov 6) said the maiden joint Naval exercise with India scheduled for November 14 was a new sphere of co-operation between the two countries in the non-traditional security area and that would contribute to further enhancement of bilateral ties.

"China will be co-operating with India to hold a maritime search and rescue exercise. This is a co- operation between the two sides in the non-traditional security field," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said.

"It is very positive and will be very beneficial for the two countries to promote their bilateral ties," Zhang told reporters when asked to comment on the first-ever Naval exercise between India and China next week.

"I have nothing new or detailed information to add," she said when asked to provide details of the exercise between the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and the Indian Navy which is scheduled to take place off the Shanghai port on the eastern coast.

About the significance of the move, especially with China's traditional close ties with Pakistan, Zhang said, "it is safe to say that China has this kind of co-operation with various countries in the n-traditional security field."

PTI