China urges Pakistan, India to cooperate

China urged Pakistan and India to work together to address the fallout from last week's deadly terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

China on Thursday urged Pakistan and India to work together to address the fallout from last week's deadly terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

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"Pakistan and India are both good neighbours of China," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters.

"We sincerely hope that India and Pakistan will step up cooperation and dialogue and jointly safeguard peace and stability in East Asia, which is in the interest of both countries and the region."

During a press briefing, Liu had been asked about the potential for heightened tension between Pakistan and India in the wake of the attacks.

The attacks by a group of gunmen killed 188 people and rattled ties between the nuclear armed South Asian nations.

India has blamed "elements" in Pakistan for the attacks on targets that included two luxury hotels, a Jewish centre, a popular cafe, a packed railway station and a hospital.

China has long been one of Pakistan's closest regional partners, with Beijing looking to Islamabad as a counterbalance to India.

However, China and India pledged friendlier relations during a state visit in January by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.