Washington: The US has said that it encourages the development of bilateral relations between Pakistan and China and does not see anything 'new' in any nuclear defence treaties that may have been signed during the recent visit of the Chinese President Hu Jintao to Islamabad.

"We encourage development of bilateral relations between Pakistan and its neighbors. China and Pakistan have a long history of relations. As for any, sort of, nuclear angle on this, I'm not aware of anything new that was announced or is allowed for by these agreements other than what was already grandfathered in by the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

"So I don't think there's anything new on that front," the State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.

Noting that China is a growing power, he said, "We would ask that China play a constructive role in the international community. It is developing economically, diplomatically, politically, militarily." "China is going to be an important power on the international scene for some time to come. And we would hope that as it develops and as it defines its future role on the international stage that it plays a constructive role," he said.

During his visit to Pakistan, Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf and agreed to continue to enrich the contents of bilateral strategic and cooperative partnership by expanding practical and reciprocal cooperation in various fields.

Hu made a five-point proposal for the further growth of bilateral relations and the two sides signed a number of cooperative documents including an agreement on free trade.