BEIJING: Commenting on India’s protest to Pakistan against issuance of theGilgit-Baltistan Order, China on Tuesday said that the Kashmir issue was alegacy issue between Pakistan and India and should be properly handled bythe two countries through dialogue and consultation.
“First of all, I will like to say that the Kashmir issue is a legacy issuebetween Pakistan and India and should be properly handled by the twocountries through dialogue and consultation,” Chinese foreign ministry’sspokesperson Hua Chunying said during her regular press briefing held here.
The Pakistan government has already categorically rejected India’s protestagainst the Gilgit-Baltistan Order and its claim over Indian occupied Stateof Jammu Kashmir as an ‘integral part’ of India. When asked to respond thatthe move was aimed at advancing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)project through the region, she said, “China has taken note of relevantreports.”
Hua said that CPEC was a framework for a long-term cooperation betweenChina and Pakistan and it aimed to help improve local infrastructure andpromote local economic and social development.
“We have repeatedly stressed that CPEC is a framework for cooperationbetween China and Pakistan focused on long-term cooperation in variousfields. It aims to help improve local infrastructure and livelihoods andpromote local economic and social development,” she added.
The spokesperson remarked the cooperation on CPEC would not affect China’sposition on the Kashmir issue. A spokesperson for Pakistan’s ForeignMinistry recently remarked that as a responsible member of theinternational community, Pakistan has always taken steps consistent with UNSecurity Council resolutions on Jammu Kashmir dispute and the latestmeasure is no exception, as its aim is to further empower the people ofGilgit Baltistan.
Obaid Abrar Khan and Hafiz Tahir Khalil add from Islamabad: ChineseAmbassador to Pakistan Yao Jing on Tuesday said that China is confidentthat caretaker and then new government in Pakistan would work closely withChina for the development of the region.
While giving exclusive interview to ‘Jang Group’ Chinese Ambassador YaoJing said that Pakistan was on the front line in war against terrorism andhas given sacrifices and now the situation in Pakistan is much batter.
He said that including Fata in KP is great achievement of Pakistan, as itwas one of the major challenges in the past. Talking about ShanghaiCooperation Organisation (SCO) summit which is going to be held in themonth of June Chinese Ambassador said that this would be first time forPakistan to attend summit as its full member.
Briefing about SCO summit Chinese ambassador said that it’s verycomprehensive where ministers from transportation, trade, human rights etchad meeting with each others. “Chief Justices of all members’ countriesalso had meeting in which Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar wasthere to attend meeting.
Chinese ambassador said SCO’s main goals to strengthening mutual trust andneighbourliness among the member states; promoting their effectivecooperation in politics, trade, the economy, research, technology andculture, as well as in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmentalprotection, and other areas; making joint efforts to maintain and ensurepeace, security and stability in the region; and moving towards theestablishment of a democratic, fair and rational new internationalpolitical and economic order.
He further said the SCO has two permanent bodies, the SCO Secretariat basedin Beijing and the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-TerroristStructure (RATS) based in Tashkent. “All member countries includingPakistan can get benefit from Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), asthis would share information to the countries which are facing terrorism,”he added.
Chinese ambassador said that SCO comprises eight member states, namelyIndia, Kazakhstan, People’s Republic of China, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan,Russian Federation, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
SCO counts four observer states, namely Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran andMongolia. The SCO has six dialogue partners, namely Azerbaijan, Armenia,Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey and Sri Lanka.
Relying to a question about anti-CPEC propaganda by the vested lobby, theambassador said it will not work, since Pakistani media is highly friendlyand cooperative, and it is quite effective in countering it, buildingpositive image of their socio-economic partnership.
He pointed out that consolidating the all-weather friendship between Chinaand Pakistan has more important and practical significance for regionalpeace and development. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is apermanent intergovernmental international organisation, which was announcedin June 2001 and Pakistan was announced its full member in June 2017.