BEIJING – Reiterating its support to Pakistan at the FATF platform, Chinahas categorically announced that they did not want the forum to bepoliticized as some countries were pursuing their political agenda in a bidto blacklist Pakistan.
“China does not want the FATF to be politicized by any single country.There are some countries, which want to include Pakistan in the blacklist.We consider they have political designs. That is something China isagainst. China stands for justice,” Deputy Director General for PolicyPlanning of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affair Department of Asian AffairYao Wen said.
Speaking to a group of visiting Pakistani journalists here, Yao Wen saidChina stood with Pakistan and blocked any attempt to include Pakistan inthe blacklist.
“We made it clear to the United States and India that we cannot do it. Itgoes beyond the purpose of FATF,” he added.
He said the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was not meant to put anycountry in the blacklist, rather to support it to take action againstterror financing. Pakistan was effectively pursuing its National ActionPlan, and China encouraged it to act against terrorists and strengthen itssystem.
“China will help (Pakistan) technically and politically to improve itssystem,” he added. China would also help Pakistan build the capacity tohandle issues related to terror financing.
He said instead of pressuring it, the FATF member countries should assistPakistan to improve its system and China would also continue its support inthat regard.
Besides China, a traditional ally of Pakistan, Turkey and Malaysia alsosupported the country in the FATF meeting held in October.
According to the 36-member FATF’s Charter, the support of at least threecountries is required to keep any state from being blacklisted. The FATF inits October meeting expressed satisfaction over the initiatives taken byPakistan and its progress in various areas.
As regards Pak-China ties, the Chinese official said it was high time intheir bilateral relationship since Prime Minister Imran Khan visitedBeijing thrice in a year and had meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinpingfour times.
He said the recent visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to China was aproductive one, wherein he also had interaction with many heads of state.
He said China and Pakistan were all-weather strategic partners, with closecooperation in multiple fields.
The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said, was moving in rightdirection. “We are working closely on CPEC, and the issues of Kashmir andFATF.”
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He welcomed establishing of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority(CPECA) by Pakistan that would help expedite work on CPEC projects.
About the recent visit of Chinese President to India, he said the relationsbetween Chain and Pakistan were mature enough and they had nothing to dowith India.
“China and Pakistan have cooperation in all the sectors. Our mutual truststands very high while we have deficit of trust with India as we have somany problems and differences (with them),” he added
He said the Chinese president conveyed Pakistan’s concerns to Indian PrimeMinister Narendra Modi over current development in the Indian OccupiedJammu and Kashmir.
India was told that Pakistan did not want war with it and desired toresolve the Kashmir issue through peaceful means, he added.
To a question, the official said China had serious concerns over Indianaction of August 5, which had even challenged the Chinese sovereignty andinterests.
China, he said, had expressed its strong position on the action.
Yao Wen said China had a clear position that the Indian Occupied JammuKashmir was a disputed territory. The dispute between Pakistan and Indiahad to be resolved in accordance with the United Nations Charter and itsSecurity Council resolutions. China did not back the unilateral actiontaken by India, he added. China was willing to play a constructive role forthe peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue, he said.
The official said during the last five years, lots of achievements had beengained as about 20 road infrastructure projects and powers generationplants had been completed under CPEC.
“Now we are working with the Government of Pakistan on new projects,” headded. He said in the next phase of CPEC, establishment of specialindustrial zones would be focused, which would create job opportunities forlocal people, besides increasing exports, uplifting of social economic andeliminating poverty, he added.
He said China and Pakistan had also strong cooperation in the defencesector.
