China has rejected Russian calls for a three-way strategic alliance between Beijing, Moscow and Delhi.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Beijing preferred to act alone on global issues.

The suggestion came from the Russian prime minister, Yevgeny Primakov, currently on a visit to India to extend defence and trade agreements.

At the end of his trip today, a joint communique said India and Russia would seal an agreement on strategic partnership at a summit next year.

It said accords between the two countries were of paramount importance.

There was no mention of China.