BEIJING, China: China on Thursday said that it valued Pakistan’s role in the Afghanistan issue and respects its sovereignty and security concerns.
“We value Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan issue and respect Pakistan’s sovereignty and security concerns,” the Spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry Hua Chunying said during her regular press briefing in Beijing.
On the US new policy on Afghanistan and South Asia, she said that the elaboration of the US policy on Afghanistan and South Asia has drawn a widespread attention.
Hua Chunying informed that Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi held a telephonic conversation with the US State of Secretary Rex Tillerson and told him about the policy of China on Afghan issue.
“Yang Jiechi mentioned that China is committed to promoting peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan,” she added.
The Spokesperson said that China has always maintained that the political dialogue is only way out of Afghanistan issue.
The international community needs to support Afghanistan in achieving a broad and inclusive political reconciliation, support the Afghan people in pursuing a development path that suits their own national conditions and support the Afghan government in increasing it capability to fight forces of extremism and terrorism, she said.
The Spokesperson said that China stands ready to keep communication and coordination with the US on the Afghanistan issue and make concerted efforts to realize peace and stability in Afghanistan and the whole region.
Responding to a question about the outcome of Pakistan’s foreign secretary’s recent visit to China, she informed that the Chinese foreign minister and assistant foreign ministers held meetings with her during the visit.
Hua said that China maintained that China and Pakistan are all weather strategic partners, and added, “We have always given each other support on core issues and interests.”
The Chinese Foreign Office Spokesperson said against the current backdrop, China appreciates Pakistan’s efforts in ensuring security for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
“The foreign secretary assured that Pakistan is China’s iron brother and it will not change its policy towards China,” she added.
“The foreign secretary also assured that Pakistan will remain committed to the CPEC as well promoting new advancements in our bilateral relations,” she added.
To a question on the building of a new road by India in disputed border area, she said India was “slapping its own face” by going ahead with a road project near the Pangong lake on the India-China border.
“It seems according to the reports the Indian side is slapping its own face. The Indian side is closely following China’s road-building recently but India’s actions themselves have proven that the Indian side says something and does another. It’s words are in complete contradiction to its deeds in terms of border issues,” she added.
Hua said the western section of the India-China boundary has not been delimited. The two sides have agreed to uphold border areas’ peace and tranquility before disputes are settled.
The current road construction by the Indian side is not conducive to peace and stability in that area and the project will not help with settlement of the current situation.
Source: APP/DND
