"As for the ballistic missile test of India, we have noted the reports," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

"We hope that India, as a country with an important influence in this region, can work to maintain and promote peace and stability in the region.

"We hope they can make a positive contribution in this regard and play a positive role."

Qin refused to comment further on the test.

India on Thursday test-fired a nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile which can reach the Chinese cities of Beijing and Shanghai.

The launch of the Agni-III missile took place from Wheeler Island, 180 kilometres (110 miles) northeast of Bhubaneswar, capital of the eastern state of Orissa.

India, which conducted nuclear weapons tests in 1998, has developed a series of nuclear and conventional missile systems as part of the Defence Research and Development Organisation Integrated Missile Development Programme which was launched in 1983.

All rights reserved. � 2005 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.