China calls on Pakistan, India to settle disagreement with goodwill
BEIJING (92 News) – Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said that China hopes Pakistan and India will replace confrontation with dialogue, settle disagreement with goodwill and create a better future with cooperation.
On Friday, to a question about the recent tension between Pakistan and India, Chinese Foreign minister Wang said that China welcomes the willingness expressed by the two countries in recent days to de-escalate the situation and start talks.
“China has stressed from the beginning the need to exercise calm and restraint and prevent escalation,” Wang said at a press conference on the sidelines of the second session of the 13th National People's Congress.
China supports any measures aimed at easing Pak-India escalation
Addressing a news briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman has said that China is maintaining contact with both the sides Islamabad and New Delhi to help achieve this goal.
“China hopes that India and Pakistan, which are important countries in South Asia, will be able to resolve the relevant problems via friendly dialogue and negotiations. In order to reduce tensions [in the region], China maintains close contacts with both India and Pakistan,” Lu Kang said.
The spokesman also commented on the proposal made during talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Pakistani counterpart, Shah Mehmood Qureshi. According to the plan, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) mechanisms could be used to resolve the existing crisis in the region.
“China supports any constructive measures that would contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region and reducing tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad,” he stated.
China urges India, Pakistan to exercise restraint after air strike
On Feb 26, China urged India and Pakistan to “exercise restraint” after Indian aircraft violated Pakistan airspace, in a move that sent tensions soaring between the countries over Indian-held Jammu Kashmir.
“We hope that both India and Pakistan can exercise restraint and adopt actions that will help stabilise the situation in the region and improve mutual relations,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said.
It is pertinent to mention here that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to meet his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj and Russia’s Sergei Lavrov in the Chinese city of Wuzhen on Wednesday for a previously planned meeting.
