Beijing Says J&K Issue Should Be Resolved Bilaterally
NEW DELHI/ BEIJING: Mahabalipuram, a historically important place during the Pallava Empire, is all set to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping on October 11 for his second informal meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The two leaders had held the first informal summit in Wuhan last year, which significantly helped normalise the turbulent bilateral relationship in the aftermath of the 73-day Doklam crisis. President Donald Trump’s trade war with China and his administration’s decision to increase tariffs on Indian goods, has also generated the prospect of improvement in relations between New Delhi and Beijing.
As Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Beijing Tuesday for talks with Xi Jinping ahead of the Chinese President’s important visit to India, 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, Chinese officials informally said an announcement would be made simultaneously in Beijing and New Delhi on Wednesday. “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 said in response to questions on Xi’s visit to India. Both India and China are major developing countries of the world and major emerging markets, he said.
When asked about Imran Khan’s visit to Beijing ahead of Xi’s trip to India and whether the Kashmir issue will figure in his talks with the Chinese leaders, Geng said that China’ stand is that the Kashmir issue should be resolved between India and Pakistan. “And so you are paying attention to the Kashmir issue, right? China’s position on Kashmir issue is clear and consistent”, he said.
In its first reaction on August 6, the Chinese foreign ministry issued two separate statements. In another statement, China also expressed its opposition to India’s move to create a separate Union Territory of Ladakh highlighting Beijing’s territorial claims in the area. On Imran Khan’s visit, Geng said China attaches “great importance” to his trip.
Imran Khan arrived in Beijing on a two-day official visit to China during which he would meet the country’s top leadership including President Xi and discuss issues of regional and bilateral significance.
Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa arrived in Beijing ahead of Imran Khan on Monday night, according to the Pakistan army’s media wing – the Inter-Services Public Relations. Their visits came ahead of Xi Jinping’s planned visit to India.
China’s position on the Kashmir issue is clear and consistent, a Chinese government spokesperson said, adding that it is a legacy of history between India and Pakistan, which it says is also the consensus of the international community.
China also expressed its opposition to India’s move to create a separate Union Territory of Ladakh, saying that there are areas of dispute between the two nations which, according to Beijing, affects China’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Beijing even went to the extent of raising this issue at the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations, miserably failing to garner any favourable response of the world community.
(Wth Agency Inputs ).
