The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded coolly on Monday to media reports in Japan that Tokyo and New Delhi plan to align with each other closely with the aim of containing China.

A Japanese media frenzy over the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has focused on the assumption that Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe are working on a plan to "strengthen their ties and hedge against the growing power of Beijing".

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a news conference that Beijing "has taken notice" of relevant information about Modi's visit.

"I want to emphasize that both China and India are major countries that advocate for and follow the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and both nations pursue independent foreign affairs policies," Qin said.