India has "aspired for a long period of time to be the main power of South Asia," Jiang said in a meeting with AFP chairman Jean Miot. But "China has no intention of restarting its nuclear tests," he said in his first direct reaction to the series of nuclear tests carried out by India and Pakistan in recent weeks.

China, a long-term ally of Pakistan, has strongly criticised India for its five nuclear tests over May 11 and 13. Two weeks later Pakistan detonated six nuclear devices in response.

"The tensions in South Asia must be firmly blamed on India," Jiang said, while recalling the warm welcome and signs of friendship he received on his 1996 visit to New Delhi when the government of H D Deve Gowda was in office.

Jiang said he was surprised by the tests, which clearly showed that "India is targeting China and Pakistan."

WhileChina's foreign ministry reacted strongly to the Indian tests, and stated its total opposition to all nuclear testing, its reaction to the Pakistan tests was only one of regret, indicating the close links between Beijing and Islamabad.