CPEC not to change our position on Kashmir: China

• FO spokesperson hopes Pakistan, India to address Kashmir properly through dialogue

China on Tuesday emphasised that building of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was progressing very smoothly and it has entered into stage of comprehensive implementation.

“The building of the corridor is progressing very smoothly and it has entered into stage of comprehensive implementation,” China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Geng Shuang said during a regular press briefing here.

When asked to share progress on the energy projects being completed under the CPEC to overcome electricity shortage in Pakistan, he said that 11 out of 17 projects planned in the field of energy have been put into construction. The completion of energy-related programmes would greatly provide relief to the people, he said.

Responding to a question, he said that China’s promotion of the CPEC framework did not change its position on Kashmir issue. “We always believe that Kashmir is an issue left over from the history between Pakistan and India, which we hope will be properly addressed by the two sides through consultation and negotiation,” he said.

To yet another question about Indian efforts to further cement its ties with Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan to against the ongoing cooperation between Pakistan and China, he said that China also welcomes enhancement of bilateral relations and cooperation between India and other relevant countries.

The spokesperson hoped that this kind of cooperation would be conducive to enhancing mutual trust among the countries in the region and regional peace and stability. When asked as to how important for China that India should consider to participating in the forthcoming forum, he said some Indian scholars have been registered to attend the high-level meetings of the Belt and Road initiative to be held here.

“As the host county, China will warmly welcome all the participants including from India,” he said. To yet another question, he said that China and India were two major developing countries in the world and the bilateral relationship and cooperation between them severs interests of the people of the two countries and also conducive to peace and stability of the region and the world.

He said that China position to improve relations with India was very clear. Regarding participation of North Korea in the Belt and Road Forum, the spokesperson said that the Korea (DPRK) would send a delegation to attend the forum.

MEDIA RESPONSE: India must not exaggerate concerns on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor or overly interpret China’s military development, a leading Chinese daily reported. An article published in the Global Times newspaper said that India was worried that China was intentionally interfering in Pakistan-India disputes and utilising CPEC to grant legitimacy to Islamabad control over the ‘disputed region.’

“India is viewing Beijing and Islamabad as potential threats and is suspicious of Beijing’s One Belt and One Road initiative and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor,” it said, adding that India is exaggerating the situation. The article said that China advocates peaceful development and it has and would never seek hegemony in the region.

China’s defence budget will rise by about seven percent this year, the lowest since 2010 and Beijing’s military development is part of its national construction, and New Delhi should not overly interpret it, it said. The official media again urged India to join the Chinese project to link China with Eurasia through the Belt and Road (B&R) initiative amid concern here about New Delhi’s apparent silence over participation in the summit.

At least, 28 heads of state and government, including the leadership of Pakistan and Sri Lanka, have confirmed their participation in the summit Beijing is projecting as a global acceptance of the initiative. The article said that instead of being overly concerned about China’s rise, New Delhi should consider taking an early role in B&R initiative.

China’s infrastructural initiative will not only bring economic benefits but also fulfil India’s ambition to be an influential economic power in the region. It urged India to abandon its suspicions and adopt a pragmatic attitude towards China and Pakistan’s development. The B&R initiative includes a maze of road, rail and port projects in a number of countries to connect mainland China to markets in Asia and Europe, while CPEC is highlighted as the flagship project of the initiative.