China has denied ‘nonsense’ rumours of a rift with Islamabad after reports of Chinese President Xi Jinping ignoring Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Kazakhstan emerged, following the murder of two Chinese nationals in Balochistan.
Lee Zing Yang, 24, and Meng Li Si, 26, were abducted from Jinnah Town of Quetta on May 24. Two weeks after their abduction, the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group claimed that it had killed the abductees.
China had condemned the incident, saying the abduction highlighted the ‘risks’ associated with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Chinese state media outlet Global Times also hit out at India’s media for “exaggerating” the impact of the murders by IS on Sino-Pak relations. It said the unfortunate killings cannot “drive a wedge between China and Pakistan”.
“This tragedy was more likely caused by the conflict between South Korean missionary agencies and local terrorists…The killings show the appalling atrocity of the terrorists. But the Chinese public is also strongly opposed to South Korean churches recruiting young Chinese people to preach in war-torn areas, exposing them to great dangers,” said the article. “So far, no political forces in Pakistan have openly boycotted the CPEC, instead, various regions compete to join the project. There is generally a favourable political and public opinion environment toward the project. The killings of the two hostages are not a signal of any change to the current situation.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said: “I can tell you that during the 17th SCO heads of state meeting, President Xi met with Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif several times.” He added, “Some reports are just nonsense and unwanted. China and Pakistan enjoy an all-weather strategic partnership.”
The spokesperson said the SCO has become an important platform and reliable support for the members to enhance mutual trust, deepen good neighbourly ties and friendship and expand political cooperation and uphold regional security and stability for the members.
“The summit has realised the first-ever membership enlargement of the SCO. As you know India and Pakistan have got full membership,” Lu said. “This summit has helped to strengthen the cohesion of SCO members, charted the course for future development and also made new proposals for SCO cooperation.”
Last week it was reported that Xi had held meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, except Sharif at the SCO summit.
Meanwhile, it was also reported that PM Nawaz had met with the presidents of Kazakhstan, Russia and Afghanistan, but did not meet Xi.
Lu said all member nations at the summit had agreed to “build on the Shanghai spirit” and step up the cooperation between the new and old members.
“The summit has realised the first-ever membership enlargement of the SCO,” Lu said. “As you know India and Pakistan have got full membership.”
The spokesperson further said that the summit appreciated the Belt Road Forum which was held in Beijing last month.
The spokesperson further said that the summit appreciated the Belt and Road Forum which was held in Beijing last month.
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