Beijing: As Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived here Tuesday for talks with Xi Jinping ahead of the Chinese President’s important visit to India he was in for a shock. China said the Kashmir issue should be resolved between New Delhi and Islamabad, significantly omitting its recent references to the UN and UN Security Council resolutions.
However, it should be stated here that Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang during his media briefing Tuesday did not make any official announcement about Xi Jinping’s visit to India. Chinese officials informally said an announcement would be made simultaneously Wednesday in Beijing and New Delhi.
The Foreign Ministry has also called for a special media briefing on Wednesday on ‘Chinese leader’s outbound visit’.
“India and China have a tradition of high-level exchanges. Both sides have communication exchange over high-level visit. Any new information will be released soon,” Geng Shuang said in response to questions on Xi’ Jinping’s visit to India.
Both India and China are major developing countries of the world and major emerging markets, the minister pointed out.
“Since the Wuhan informal summit (last year), our bilateral relations have gathered good momentum,” Shuang informed. “We have been advancing our cooperation and properly managing our differences. We have a tradition of high level exchange and our two sides are maintaining communication on high level exchange in the next phase. We should make good atmosphere and environment for this,” he added.
When asked about Imran Khan’s visit ahead of Xi’s trip to India and whether the Kashmir issue will figure in his talks with the Chinese leaders, Shuang said that China’s stand is that the Kashmir issue should be resolved between India and Pakistan.
“China’s position on Kashmir issue is clear and consistent,” asserted Geng Shuang. “We call on India and Pakistan to engage in dialogue and consultation on all issues including Kashmir issue and consolidate mutual trust. This is in line with interest of both countries and common aspiration of the world,” stated Shuang.
His comments marked a significant shift on what China has been saying on Kashmir in recent weeks.
In its first reaction August 6, the Chinese foreign ministry issued two separate statements.
In one statement, China expressed its opposition to India’s move to create a separate Union Territory of Ladakh highlighting Beijing’s territorial claims in the area.
The second statement said, “We call on both India and Pakistan to peacefully resolve the relevant disputes through dialogue and consultation and safeguard peace and stability in the region.”
But, China added UN and UNSC resolutions on Kashmir when Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi visited Beijing few days later and met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
Geng’s comments on Tuesday marks China’s return to its original stand that Kashmir issue should be resolved bilaterally.
PTI