Shed reservations and join BRI: China to India
Says its ally has made important contributions for world peace
BEIJING: China on Thursday said India should shed its reservations over President Xi Jinping’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative and join the project as it will not change Beijing’s stand on the Kashmir issue.
The BRI, which includes the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has been included in the Constitution of the ruling Communist Party of China in the just concluded once-in- five-year Congress.
India has raised objections about the CPEC as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and had boycotted a high-profile Belt and Road Forum organised by China in May.
“We welcome other countries including India to participate in the BRI on the basis of voluntarism,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said in Beijing.
The BRI’s goal is to promote connectivity between regional countries and common prosperity of all countries, he said.
“The initiative will not affect China’s position on relevant issues and our position on relevant initiatives will not be changed,” he said.
China says the $50 billion CPEC is a connectivity project and will not affect its stance that the Kashmir issue should be resolved between India and Pakistan through talks.
The BRI will bring tangible benefits to those who are participating in the project at an early date, Geng said.
According to a senior CPC official, the Chinese firms so far have invested $560 billion overseas under the BRI since 2013 and paid over $100 billion in taxes and created millions of jobs.
‘RECOGNISE PAK’S COUNTER-TERROR EFFORTS’
China asked the international community to recognise Pakistan’s efforts in fighting terrorism, amid mounting pressure on its all-weather ally to act against terror groups and dismantle their safe havens on its soil.
Reacting to US secretary of state Rex Tillerson’s remarks in New Delhi that terror safe havens in Pakistan will not be tolerated, Geng said Islamabad has made positive efforts and “great sacrifices” on counterterrorism front.
“Pakistan has made important contributions for world peace and maintaining regional stability. We believe that the international community should recognise the efforts made by Pakistan in counterterrorism,” he said.