Beijing, May 30 (Xinhua) China Tuesday said the signing of a pact between Beijing and New Delhi aimed at intensifying their military ties was not "targeted at any third country".

The signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) will be beneficial to the growth of China-India military relations and "will not target any third country", said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao at a press conference here.

The pact, which envisages joint exercises by the armed forces of the two countries and intensified cooperation in counter-terrorism, was signed Monday by visiting Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Chinese counterpart Gen. Cao Gangchuan.

The pact "provides a formal basis for the defence and military exchanges that have been taking place between the two countries in the last few years".

Mukherjee arrived in Beijing Sunday for his six-day visit to China, which will also take him to northwestern Gansu Province and Shanghai municipality, the country's economic hub in east China.

This is Mukherjee's first trip to China since the assumption of his post in 2004.

Cao and Mukherjee held talks, pledging to deepen military exchanges between the armed forces of the two countries.

China has pledged to step up strategic and cooperative relations with India in 2006, a year of friendship between the two countries, said Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing during a meeting with Mukherjee Monday.

Meanwhile, Guo Boxiong, vice-chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC), said in a meeting with Mukherjee that the two largest developing nations enjoyed a great potential in developing bilateral ties.

The relations between the armed forces of the two countries had been developing soundly, with increased understanding and trust and expansion of exchanges, Guo said.

The ties between the two armed forces helped to promote the all-round growth of Sino-Indian relations and spur a good atmosphere for peace in the border area, he said.

Both forces should contribute to the promotion of friendship between the peoples of the two countries and mutual prosperity, Guo acknowledged.

Mukherjee said the people of the two countries shared a common desire for peaceful and friendly relations.

The Indian government would work with China to push for a strategic and cooperative partnership based on the five principles of the peaceful co-existence, he said.