An air view of the Yarlung Zangbo River in this Oct 5, 2005 file photo. [Photo by Niu Yixin/Asianewsphoto]

BEIJING - A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Monday that China is maintaining "communication and cooperation" with India on the issue of a cross-border river and ensure that no negative impact is caused on the river's lower reaches.

"China has always taken a responsible attitude towards cross-border river development. China and India are maintaining communication and cooperation on the cross-border river issue," spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing.

Hua's comments came in response to India's concerns about China's plans to build three hydropower stations on the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, known as the Brahmaputra in India.

China is committed to carrying out development and protection at the same time and has given full consideration to the projects' impact on the river's lower reaches, Hua said.

"The construction of the stations will not impact flood control or disaster reduction efforts, as well as ecological environment on the lower reaches," she said.

With an average altitude of 4,500 meters, the Yarlung Zangbo River is the highest river in the world. It originates in the glacial regions of the northern Himalayas, runs 2,057 km through southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, passes into India and finally meets the Indian Ocean in the Bay of Bengal.