- Beijing working for nomralisation but not mediating between Delhi and Islamabad
- Upcoming JCC to add new impetus to CPEC glory
BEIJING, China – China says President Xi Jinping conveyed Pakistan’s concerns to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the recent summit in Chennai over the forceful annexation of Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IoJK) and it would keep playing its role to help defuse tensions between both the nuclear neighbours.
Setting aside Indian media’s assertion that Kashmir was not discussed at the Xi-Modi summit, a senior official of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs told a select group of journalists from Pakistan here that President Xi wanted restart of dialogue between India and Pakistan but a dialogue would take time.
“We want reengagement between our both neighbours (India and Pakistan). We want this to happen and we are facilitating talks. But we are not mediating but a message was conveyed at the informal Chennai summit,” said the Chinese official.
“We understand that Pakistan is concerned at the situation developed in IoJK. Pakistan is expressing restraint. India also is restraint but the issues both countries are dealing with are very complex in nature and these complexities are a big challenge,” the official said.
The official added that China wants India to play a constructive role in regional peace and development and this is the major reason for engaging India in talks.
“We also have border disputes with India but we have not suspended engagement. We also did not suspend trade ties. We have a strong and trustworthy partnership with Pakistan and we will stand by Pakistan through thick and thin,” the official said.
UPCOMING JCC TO ADD NEW IMPETUS TO CPEC’S SECOND STAGE
The official said that Beijing believes the upcoming meeting of Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) of the China, Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) set to be held in November would act as stepping stone to take the economic corridor into a new stage.
“The (upcoming) JCC would add new impetus to the CPEC’s second phase. ML-I project can be secured at the JCC. China is determined to help Pakistan mitigate its economic challenges and we are carefully discussing issues with Pakistan,” the official said.
The official said that China doesn’t want to burden Pakistan with debts. He said China welcomes formation of CPEC authority and it hopes that CPEC would make strong progress now. The official said Islamabad and Beijing are on one page on international issues. He said that the two countries were working as key partners for the prosperity of the region.
“The PM’s recent visit was very positive. We discussed all issues and agreed on all issues. We will always remain iron brothers and would stand together on international and regional issues. Pakistan and China are engaged in top-level contacts to implement all bilateral contracts,” he said and added that China and Pakistan will work together for a shared future and with their all-weather relationship based upon principles and interests.
He mentioned China’s great support to Pakistan in the sectors of security, trade and infrastructure development. He said that the CPEC is the largest comprehensive project with any country.
He said that CPEC was a fusion of multiple development projects, aimed at the prosperity and well-being of citizens of the country and the region at large.
The official said CPEC had huge economic benefits for the people of Pakistan and the region. He said China wants to see Pakistan as a strong economic power and both the countries already have good economic and defence ties.
“We want the multiply the engagement to achieve new levels of friendship,” said the official, adding that the top level contacts and meetings in the recent months had further strengthened the relationship between the ‘iron brothers’.
PAKISTAN, CHINA TRADE SET TO TOUCH NEW HIGHS, SAYS AMB HASHMI
Pakistan’s ambassador to China Naghmana Hashmi said that Pakistan and China were close friends, partners and brotherly countries and the bilateral trade volume between Pakistan and China had now touched $19.08 billion and both countries aimed at raising it further.
“This relationship had developed with the continuous efforts of successive generations of leaders and diplomats from both countries,” she said at a luncheon in honour of the visiting Pakistani journalists.
The ambassador said that she was committed to work closely with counterparts in China to further develop this deep-rooted friendship.
“The bilateral trade volume between Pakistan and China is rising. Pakistan and China are historically connected through the cultural and knowledge corridor,” she maintained.
Ambassador Hashmi said that people-to-people contact and cultural exchanges have increased. “Hence, despite different political systems, social orientations, cultural roots and heritage, Pakistan and China are a unique example of civilizational harmony and peaceful coexistence,” the envoy said.
She said the CPEC was inspired by President Xi’ Jinping’s vision of regional connectivity and a people-centric development model.
She said PM Imran Khan had a successful visit to China recently and the friendship had even strengthened more. “Imran Khan has come closer to China. The new (Pakistan) government has shown commitment to work with China,” she concluded.
