China will "vigorously" implement a bilateral agreement to upgrade Sino-Indian relations to strategic levels, Chinese Foreign Minister, Yang Jiechi, said while hinting that Beijing is open to civilian nuclear energy cooperation with all countries under the IAEA safeguards, sources said here on Monday.

Yang who met a joint delegation of members of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) here on Friday told them that he had been instructed by the Chinese leadership that Beijing would vigorously implement the strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and cooperation agreed upon by the two countries.

India and China had agreed to upgrade their bilateral relations to strategic levels during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to India in April 2005.

"The Chinese Foreign Ministry will carry out this instruction to the best of its ability," Yang told a joint delegation of EPG members led by former Indian Ambassador to China, C V Ranganathan and former Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister, Liu Shuqing, respectively.

Yang also welcomed India's improving relations with the US, Japan and other major powers. There were no negative remarks on the forthcoming naval exercises, senior Indian delegation sources said here before winding up their visit Monday after a visit to the historic city of Xi'an in northwest China.

"I would say these were two essential points that were conveyed to the Indian side by the Chinese Foreign Minister," Ranganathan said.

(Courtesy: PTI)