China willing to play constructive role to ease Pakistan-India tensions: senior diplomat

ISLAMABAD -- China was willing to play a constructive role to help ease the tensions between Pakistan and India, and called on the two sides to refrain from taking any actions that could further escalate the situation, a senior Chinese diplomat said.

China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners which have always shared firm mutual support in issues concerning each other's core interests, visiting Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said during his meetings with the Pakistani leadership on Wednesday.

China paid close attention to the current situation between Pakistan and India, he said, adding that China appreciates the calmness and restraint on the Pakistani side and its efforts to defuse the tensions through dialogues with the Indian side.

China maintained that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, and China does not wish to see any actions that violate rules of international relations, said Kong.

China urged both sides to avoid any actions that could further escalate the situation, show good will and flexibility and engage each other in dialogues as soon as possible, so as to jointly safeguard regional peace and stability, he added.

During his visit, Kong met with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. He also held talks with Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua.

The Pakistani officials said China is Pakistan's most reliable friend and views Pakistan's relationship with China as the cornerstone of the country's diplomacy.

Pakistan appreciated China remaining objective and fair over the current Pakistan-India situation, and thanked China for its efforts to reduce the tensions, according to the officials.

The Pakistani side reiterated that Pakistan does not want to see escalating tensions, and is willing to solve the conflicts and differences peacefully with India through dialogues, said the officials, adding that Pakistan expects China and the international community to play constructive roles in this regard.