BEIJING  -- China on Saturday welcomed the meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

"The Chinese side has noticed the report and welcomes the latest development in the Pakistan-India relationship," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in response to a question on the meeting.

On Friday, Modi stopped in Pakistan on his way to New Delhi from a visit to Afghanistan. During Modi's surprise visit, the two prime ministers met at Sharif's residence in the Pakistani city of Lahore.

It was Modi's first visit to Pakistan and the first by an Indian prime minister in 12 years.

Lu said Pakistan and India are important countries in south Asia, and the improvement of their relationship will be significant to regional peace, stability and development.

"As the common neighbor and friend of both Pakistan and India, China is happy to see and will support, as always, Pakistan and India to enhance mutual trust and achieve common development through continuous dialogue," said the spokesman.