BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- China has pledged to step up strategic and cooperative relations with India in 2006, a year of friendship between China and India.

    Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing made the remark here Monday in a meeting with visiting Indian Minister of Defence Pranab Mukherjee.

    Li said that China attaches great importance to relations with India, noting that the common prosperity of China and India, with one third of the world's population, would be a huge contribution to humankind.

    Mukherjee said that India and China are good friends and share similar views on many issues, adding that the cooperation between the two countries and their active involvement in world affairs are conducive to the peace, stability and development of the world.

    India will make concerted efforts with China to boost mutual understanding and trust in a bid to push forward bilateral relations, Mukherjee stressed. Enditem