BEIJING - As a neighbor of both India and Pakistan, China is eager to see improvement in their long-strained relations, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman on Monday, as Pakistan's prime minister attended the swearing-in of his new Indian counterpart.

India's Prime Minister-elect, Narendra Modi, invited the leaders of all eight members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation to his oath-taking ceremony on Monday -- including Pakistan's Mohammad Nawaz Sharif.

Speaking at a daily press briefing, spokesman Qin Gang said, "China welcomes Sharif's attendance," adding that both India and Pakistan are important countries in South Asia and that an improvement in their relationship is in their common interests and is conducive to regional peace.

China hopes the two countries can maintain the momentum of improvement of ties, so as to realize common development and help maintain regional peace and stability, Qin said.

He also stressed the importance China attaches to its good-neighborly relationship and comprehensive strategic partnership with India.

The spokesman said China is ready to work with the new Indian government under the leadership of Modi to jointly promote China-India cooperation to a new high, and to jointly maintain regional peace, stability and development.