India to figure in first China-pak strategic talks
: The simmering tension between India and Pakistan will figure in the first Sino-pakistan strategic dialogue between the two foreign ministers to be held in Beijing on Tuesday.
Foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi reached Beijing on Monday to attend the talks under a new mechanism in the backdrop of the tension with India following the Pulwama terror attack in Kashmir and subsequent engagement between the two air forces at the Line of Control (LOC). The visit also comes days after Beijing – for the fourth time – blocked a bid at the UN Security Council to designate Pakistan-based Jaish-e Mohammed (JEM) chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist; the JEM had claimed responsibility for the Pulwama attack.
“I believe the issues causing regional tensions will be discussed,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Geng Shuang said at a briefing on Monday. “As neighbour, China would like to see easing of tensions between the two. We would like to see the two countries continue to engage in dialogue for the peace and stability of the region,” Geng added.
To a query whether Azhar’s listing will figure in the talks in the context of Chinese envoy to India Luo Zhaohui saying it would be resolved, Geng said that he could not prejudge the topics of the talks.
BEIJING
“But they will discuss issues of bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern,” he said. On Azhar’s listing, he said: “China will continue to deal with the issue with a responsible and constructive manner and will maintain close communication with all parties, including India and Pakistan.”
Qureshi will discuss the whole gamut of bilateral relations with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi with focus on the development of the China-pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the flagship project of President Xi Jinping’s massive connectivity mission, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
According to an official statement issued in Islamabad, Qureshi’s visit will add momentum to close and broad-based bilateral ties and reinforce efforts to deepen economic engagement under the CPEC.
Qureshi will address the Political Parties Forum on the CPEC and participate in the ruling parties' dialogue between the Pakistan Tehreek-i-insaf and the Communist Party of China.