China hopes Pakistan, India will focus on improvement in relations

BEIJING: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has hoped that Pakistan and Indian would turn the page and focus on a long-term improvement in relations.

Speaking at a news conference on the sidelines of the 13th National People’s Congress in Beijing on Friday, he urged resolution of issues between the two countries through dialogue and called for calm and restraint in Pakistan-India relations following recent tensions.

Recent events focussed international attention on the India-Pakistan relations, he said stating that China played a constructive role to resolve the tensions between the two neighbours.

“China has stressed from the beginning the need to exercise restraint prevent an escalation, find out what has happened and resolve the matter through dialogue,” Wang said adding that Beijing tried to play a mediatory role.

China recently dispatched its Vice Foreign Minister Kong Kong Xuanyou to Pakistan where he held talks with Prime Minister Imran Khan, Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, besides Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, on ways to ease the India-Pakistan tensions.

“In the last couple of days both Pakistan and India indicated a desire to de-escalate the situation and start talks. We welcome this. Pakistan and India are neighbours and always have to live with each other,” Wang said.

“Both countries face important opportunities to realise stability, development and prosperity. China hopes the two countries will get along and progress together,” he said.