Advertisement

Updated March 4th, 2019 at 16:29 IST

China keeps mum on Qureshi's claim on Beijing's plan for special envoy to India, Pakistan

China on Monday, March 4, kept mum on Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mohammad Qureshi's claim that Beijing plans to send a special envoy to Pakistan and India to ease tensions following the Pulwama terror attack but said the two countries can resolve their differences through friendly negotiations

| Image:self
Advertisement

China on Monday, March 4, kept mum on Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mohammad Qureshi's claim that Beijing plans to send a special envoy to Pakistan and India to ease tensions following the Pulwama terror attack but said the two countries can resolve their differences through friendly negotiations. 

Pakistani media on March 2 quoted Qureshi as saying that China has decided to send a special envoy to Pakistan and India in a bid to reduce the tensions in the region.

Asked about Qureshi's reported remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said, As to your question, like we said before, we really hope India and Pakistan, both important countries in South Asia, can resolve the relevant issues through friendly consultations and negotiations."

READ: India's "dream" Of Isolating Pakistan Will Never Be Fulfilled: Pak Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi

In order to ease the tensions, China has maintained close communication with both India and Pakistan. Whatever is conducive to regional peace and stability, China will try to do that, and we will continue to do so," Lu said, without referring to any plans to send a special envoy.

To a related question whether China is ready to play a mediation role between India and Pakistan as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia is also ready for it, Lu said, We welcome all the efforts that are conducive to easing tensions and promoting peace and stability in this region."

''Actually, we have been in close contact with both India and Pakistan, and we will continue to do so and to play a conducive role," he said. India maintains that Kashmir is a bilateral issue and there is no need for any third party mediation.

To another question about the reported remarks by Lavrov that Counter-Terrorism Mechanism under the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) could be a forum where the India-Pakistan issues could be discussed, Lu said I also saw the reports that Lavrov said the SCO mechanism could be used to ease the tensions.

''We encourage anything as long as it is conducive to promoting the peace and stability in this region and easing tensions. We will encourage anything to this end," he said. 
 

Advertisement

Published March 4th, 2019 at 16:29 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo