China calls for India-Pak talks to resolve J&K issue

›

China’s position on Kashmir issue is clear and consistent. We call on India and Pakistan to engage in dialogue and consultation on all issues, including Kashmir...

GENG SHUANG, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson

BEIJING: China on Tuesday said the issue of Kashmir should be resolved between India and Pakistan through dialogue and consultation, omitting the recent references Beijing had made about addressing the dispute in accordance with the UN Charter, UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreement.

The change in Beijing’s position comes on a day when Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is in Beijing, and days ahead of President Xi Jinping’s India visit during which he will have the second round of the “informal summit” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

China will announce President Xi’s visit to India, and possibly Nepal, later this week at a special briefing on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Khan will meet Xi, Premier Li Keqiang and head of China’s Parliament, National People’s Congress chief, Li Zhansu, during his visit, his third this year.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Geng Shuang, said Beijing’s stand on the Kashpeacefully mir issue has been consistent.

“And, so you are paying attention to the Kashmir issue, right? China’s position on Kashmir issue is clear and consistent. We call on India and Pakistan to engage in dialogue and consultation on all issues, including Kashmir issue and consolidate mutual trust. This is in line with the interest of both countries and common aspiration of the world,” Geng said at the regular foreign ministry briefing on Wednesday.

He, however, didn’t elaborate on Beijing’s departure from its recent statements on Kashmir.

“The Kashmir issue, a dispute left from the past, should be and properly addressed in accordance with the UN Charter, Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreement,” foreign minister, Wang Yi, had said during the recent UN General Assembly.

Jammu and Kashmir has been in a state of lockdown since the Indian government revoked its special status and bifurcated the state into two union territories on August 5-6.

Geng did not, however, announce or confirm Xi’s India visit at Tuesday’s press conference.

When asked about it, he said: “Both [India and China] are major developing countries of the world and major emerging markets. Since the Wuhan informal summit, our bilateral relations have gathered good momentum. We have been advancing our cooperation and properly managing our differences.”

“We have a tradition of highlevel exchange and our two sides are maintaining communication on high-level exchange in the next phase. We should make a good atmosphere and environment for this,” he added.