'Relationship with India has strategic meaning, global influence': China

China on Wednesday said that the relationship between Beijing and New Delhi has strategic meaning and global influence, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to the People's Republic will strengthen the strategic mutual trust between the two countries.

"China and India are the two biggest developing countries in the world and important emerging economies. China-India relationship has strategic meaning and global influence. In recent years, the relationship between the two countries has maintained a good momentum of healthy and stable development with the joint efforts from both sides have gradually found a way of mutual benefit and common development, as well as taking care of each other's concern, properly handling the differences," China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told the media.

"We are willing to work together with India. Taking Prime Minister Modi's upcoming visit to China as an opportunity, we are going to further strengthen the strategic mutual trust between the two countries, deepen practical cooperation and cultural communication, further strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional issues, push forward China and India strategic partnership facing peace and prospect to a higher level and make a greater achievement in order to realize the joint development and prospect for both countries," she added.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi said that his visit to China will lay the foundation for enhancing bilateral economic cooperation between New Delhi and Beijing.

Prime Minister Modi's visit to China will be the first leg of his six-day, three nation tour, which also includes visits of Mongolia and South Korea.