Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Japan, China on Tuesday said the countries in the region should establish a new concept of security to maintain regional peace, stability and development.
Dr Singh is embarking on a four-day visit to Japan from Wednesday with issues such as cooperation in civil nuclear energy and economic engagement high on his agenda.
"[Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Japan is the affair between India and Japan. I am not in a position to comment on that," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters when asked to comment on the visit.
"But I shall say that whether China, India or Japan, they are important countries in the region. The three countries play an important role to safeguard peace, stability and prosperity of the region," Qin said.
He said that countries in the region should strengthen dialogue and exchanges and jointly promote peace and prosperity in the region.
"We should establish a new concept of security and a new concept of peace, development and cooperation," he said when asked whether Singh's visit will have any bearing on Sino-Indian relations. In 1996, China put forward the initiative that countries in the region jointly cultivate a new concept of security, which focuses on enhancing trust through dialogue and promoting security through cooperation.
