BEIJING -- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang refuted on Thursday a Japanese remark that China's "growing military spending" has posed a threat to Japan.

Qin said China had stated its stance on the military spending issue many times.

"China follows the policy of 'building friendship and partnership with neighboring countries' and its development will pose no threat to any country," said Qin.

A journalist asked Qin to comment the remark made by Japan's new Defense Agency director general Kyuma Fumio that China's growing military spending posed a threat to Japan.

Qin said China was opposed to the use of China's military spending to play up "China threat" remark.

"We hope the Japanese side will do more things and make more remarks that are conducive to the improvement and development of China-Japan relations," said Qin.

Qin also noted a report that Kyuma Fumio said the military alliance between Japan and the United States was to check China and prepare for any contingency concerning the Taiwan Strait.

Qin said the Japan-US military alliance was a bilateral arrangement established during the Cold War and it should be strictly limited to a bilateral domain.

"If it exceeds a bilateral domain, the alliance will arouse upset among its neighboring countries and add unsteadiness to regional security," said Qin.

He said the inclusion of Taiwan directly or indirectly in the scope of Japan-US military cooperation violated China's sovereignty and interfering in China internal affairs.

South Korean President Roh Moo hyun agreed on Thursday to hold summit talks with Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at an appropriate time.

When asked to confirm the possibility of a China-Japan summit, Qin said China's stance on the meeting between Chinese and Japanese leaders was "consistent and clear".

He said China attached great importance to the improvement and development of relations with Japan and was willing to make joint efforts with the Japanese side in this regard.

China-Japan relationship is a very important bilateral relationship and its smooth development is in the interests of both countries and also conducive to regional peace and stability, said Qin, adding the international community was very concerned about the difficulty in the relationship.