'Japan-India cooperation should not target China'

China said on Friday that cooperation between Japan and India "should not target" Beijing. In response to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that Tokyo and New Delhi will strengthen cooperation over critical minerals, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said in a regular media briefing that such cooperation should not target any third party or undermine its interests. "Still less should such cooperation be used to create exclusive 'small blocs' or stoke confrontation under the pretext of cooperation," Guo said. He said cooperation between countries should help enhance understanding and trust among regional nations and safeguard regional peace and stability. Maintaining the stability and security of global industrial and supply chains is a shared responsibility of all countries, the spokesman noted, adding that all parties should embrace an open and cooperative mindset and play a constructive role to this end. The strategic commodities, which are used in everything from electric vehicles and smartphones to jet engines and guided missiles, featured prominently during talks between Modi and his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi in New Delhi on Thursday. (Xinhua/AFP) Edited by Edmond Fong