*BEIJING -*China, while condemning Pulwama attack, reiterated its stand toblock Indian moves to list JeM Chief Masons Azhar as a global terrorist bythe UN’s 1267 Sanctions Committee, NDTV has requested.
*Indian *
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yiwould meet on the sidelines of next week’s Russia-India-China ForeignMinisters’ conference in China amid Beijing’s continued blocking of India’smoves to list Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as aglobal terrorist by the UN.
The meeting assumes significance as it will be the first high-levelinteraction between the two countries after the Pulwama attack carried outby the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in which 40 CRPF soldiers were killed onFebruary 14.
The 16th meeting of the Russia-India-China (RIC) Foreign Ministers would beheld at the Chinese city of Wuzhen in the eastern Zhejiang province onFebruary 27, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang announced onWednesday.
“During this foreign ministers’ meeting, the three Foreign Ministers willfocus on implementation of our leaders’ consensus, and exchange views onmajor international, regional issues of common concern and deepeningtrilateral cooperation. I am sure this meeting will achieve positiveoutcomes,” Geng said.
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Besides Ms Swaraj and Wang Yi, the meeting would be attended by RussianForeign Minister Sergei Lavrov, he said.
Official sources in Beijing told PTI that Sushma Swaraj and Wang would alsomeet on the sidelines of the RIC ministers meeting.Advertisement
This is expected to provide an opportunity for both the ministers to havein-depth discussions on China’s reluctance to back efforts by India, theUS, the UK and France to list Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN’s 1267Sanctions Committee.
China, an “all-weather” ally of Pakistan and a veto-wielding member, hasstonewalled all efforts by putting technical holds since 2016.
