Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi concludes two-day visit to Pakistan; Kashmir issue among topics discussed during trip

Islamabad: Pakistan and China on Sunday discussed the Kashmir issue and underlined the need to settle disputes in the region through dialogue on the basis of mutual respect and equality, as Beijing reaffirmed its support for its all-weather ally in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. In a joint press release issued at the conclusion of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s two-day visit to Pakistan, the two countries emphasised that their all-weather strategic ties would remain unaffected by any regional or international situation. [caption id=“attachment_7183421” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AP[/caption] Wang, who was here to attend China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue, called on President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan. He also held talks with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. During the meetings, both sides had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. Wang’s visit to Pakistan took place amidst fresh Indo-Pak tensions after New Delhi revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on 5 August. The two sides underlined that a peaceful, stable, cooperative and prosperous South Asia is in the common interest of all parties. “Parties need to settle disputes and issues in the region through dialogue on the basis of mutual respect and equality,” the statement said. Pakistan and China exchanged views on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The Pakistani side briefed the Chinese side on the situation, including its concerns, position, and “urgent humanitarian issues”. “The Chinese side responded that it was paying close attention to the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir and reiterated that the Kashmir issue is a dispute left from history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved based on the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements. China opposes any unilateral actions that complicate the situation,” according to the statement. India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was an internal matter of the country and also advised Pakistan to accept the reality. During his visit to Beijing last month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told his Chinese counterpart Wang that the legislation passed by the Indian Parliament on Jammu and Kashmir was an internal matter for India. According to the joint press statement, Beijing reaffirmed its support for Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and national dignity, in choosing its development path in light of its national conditions, in working for a better external security environment, and in playing a more constructive role in regional and international issues. The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation on the Afghanistan issue and support the ‘Afghan-led, Afghan-owned’ peace and reconciliation process. They reiterated that the “time-tested all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between China and Pakistan is an anchor of peace and stability in the region and beyond.” “This partnership remains unaffected by any adverse regional and international development and continues to move from strength to strength. Both sides reaffirmed that China-Pakistan relationship is a priority in their foreign policies, and committed to building a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era,” according to the joint statement. The Prime Minister’s office in a statement said Khan during his talks with Wang “underscored that friendship with China is the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy” He also “highlighted that ‘all-weather strategic cooperative partnership’ between the two countries is deeply rooted in mutual trust and respect and is an anchor of peace and stability in the region and beyond.” Wang said China-Pakistan relationship is “rock-solid and unbreakable”. He reaffirmed China’s support and reiterated opposition to any “unilateral action as well as the measures, by India, that could further complicate the situation,” the statement said. Both leaders agreed that more high-level exchanges should continue to take place between the two countries to further promote bilateral ties as well as the shared goals of economic development, peace, and security across the region. They resolved to implement consensus reached by the leadership of both countries to enhance strategic mutual trust and improve all-round cooperation so as to jointly promote regional peace, stability and prosperity. “China and Pakistan have enjoyed mutual understanding and support on issues concerning each other’s core interests,” the joint statement said. Both sides believed that the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, as a pioneering project of the Belt and Road Initiative, has entered a new phase of high-quality development. The two sides agreed to continue to firmly push forward the construction of CPEC and complete its ongoing projects in a timely manner. The two countries welcomed the positive progress achieved in the negotiations between the Afghan Taliban and the US, and called on all Afghan political stake-holders, including the Afghan Taliban, to start intra-Afghan negotiations to form a future political structure acceptable to all parties and achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan at an early date.