China in contact with Pakistan on Afghan issue

China is in contact with Pakistan for working jointly to promote peace and development in Afghanistan, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang.

China, Pakistan and Russia are likely to hold a consultation on Afghanistan in Moscow on December 27.

Replying to question about China-India relations at a news briefing, the spokesperson said the two countries were marching towards the goal of forging a more closely-knit partnership for development.

It is normal for the two big countries who are also close neighbours to differ on some issues. But the main theme for the bilateral relationship is friendship and cooperation, while differences are secondary.

The two sides are in touch with each other on the relevant issues, and China would like to work with India, following the consensus reached by the two leaders, to expand mutually beneficial cooperation, properly manage differences, and ensure the sustained and steady development of bilateral ties.

As for India’s application to join the NSG and the listing matter of the UN Security Council 1267 Committee, he said China’s position is very clear and unchanged.

On question of human rights, the spokesperson said, “To promote and protect human rights is the ideal and aspiration shared by all mankind. The Human Rights Day was designated to give the international community an opportunity to strengthen human rights protection, promote human rights exchanges, and contribute to the sound development of the cause of international human rights. However, it is used as an excuse for some individual countries to hurl accusations at other countries, interfere in their domestic affairs, and politicise human rights issues. We are strongly dissatisfied with and opposed to such behaviour.

There is no one-size-fits-all path when it comes to human rights development, as every country needs to improve its record on the basis of its national conditions and its people’s needs.”

In this regard, China has made remarkable achievements in the last few years as is widely acknowledged by the international community. On the basis of respecting the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms guiding international relations, we would like to conduct equal-footed dialogue and cooperation with all countries on human rights and make joint efforts to advance the cause of human rights.

As for the individual cases made in some countries’ statements, almost all of which involve persons that either violated or are suspected of violating Chinese laws. China is a country governed by law, and our judicial organs handle cases in accordance with the law. We are firmly against other countries disrupting China’s judicial sovereignty, he added.