Phuket (Thailand), July 22 - Setting aside recent strains in bilateral ties, India's External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna held his first meeting with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi and stressed that India and China are not rivals but partners in an emerging Asia.

'India and China may be competitive in economic and trade areas, but they are not rivals. There is enough space for both India and China to grow,' Krishna told Indian journalists after his 20-minute talk with Yang on the sidelines of the India-ASEAN ministerial meetings in this Thai island resort.

Describing his meeting with Yang as a 'very useful, cordial and friendly exchange of views', Krishna said: 'We reciprocated the mutual desire to deepen our multi-faceted cooperation between India and China.'

Rejecting speculation about the Chinese threat, Krishna said he conveyed to his Chinese counterpart India's desire to forge 'a lasting friendship and partnership' in the region.

'What impressed me was the spontaneity and warmth of the Chinese foreign minister,' Krishna said while stressing that the purpose of the short meeting was to build rapport and understanding between the two foreign ministers.