Beijing, March 19 (UNI) China played a “constructive role” in reducing tension between India and Pakistan and welcomed the meeting between the two to discuss and finalise modalities for the Kartarpur Corridor, says its foreign ministry.
"I would like to say that as a friendly neighbour of India and Pakistan, China has actively promoted peace talks and played a constructive role in easing the recent tensions," Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a press briefing on Monday.
"China will continue to encourage India and Pakistan to meet each other halfway, resolve differences through dialogue and jointly uphold regional peace and stability."
The spokesperson's comment came ahead of the first China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue on Tuesday. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi are co-chairing the dialogue in which both sides will exchange views on China-Pakistan relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest.
Geng said tensions have arisen in this region recently and "the two sides will surely talk about this in the dialogue."
Welcoming the March 14 meeting between Indian and Pakistani officials to discuss modalities for the Kartarpur Corridor, Geng said China hopes relevant progress will help to further ease tensions between India and Pakistan and improve the regional situation.
"India and Pakistan are neighbours that will always live with each other," he said, adding that harmonious relationship between the two countries serves the fundamental interests of both sides and meets the common expectation of the international community.
"We hope they will continue to show goodwill, meet each other half way, properly handle differences through dialogue, work for improvement of relations and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability," said Geng.
UNI SRJ