China on Thursday characterised the upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Chinese President Hu Jintao as very important and one that would shape bilateral ties.

The maiden meeting, which would take place at the historic Russian city of St. Petersburg, is expected to focus mainly on bilateral ties, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told reporters.

"I can confirm that President Hu and Prime Minister Vajpayee will have a meeting in St. Petersburg," Zhang said at a bi-weekly news conference.

"The two sides will mainly exchange views on Sino-Indian relations," she said.

"Since the summit has not yet taken place, I think it is a little too early for me to make comment on the content of their meeting. However, it is indeed a very important meeting," Zhang said.

Sources said a clear picture on Vajpayee's much-awaited visit to China would emerge after the meeting in St. Petersburg slated for Saturday.

Vajpayee's meeting with Hu, China's new leader, which will take place on the fringes of the 300th anniversary celebrations of the historic Russian city, will be one of the high points of the prime minister's eight-day three-nation
tour of Europe.

The Chinese president, who is also the general secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China, will be in St. Petersburg on his first foreign tour after taking office in mid-March.

Both Vajpayee and Hu are guests of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

PM's Tri-nation Tour: The Complete Coverage