China asks world to respect Pakistan’s territorial integrity

• Geng hopes Pakistan, India disputes to be resolved properly through consultations
• ‘CPEC targets no third country, does not connect with any sovereign disputes’

Terming Pakistan as important cou an try in South Asia, China on Thursday asked the international community to acknowledge and support the counterterrorism efforts made by Pakistan on the basis of respecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“Pakistan is on the forefront of the global fight against terrorism. It has been firmly opposing the terrorism and it has made important sacrifices and contributions to fighting terrorism and maintaining regional security and stability,” said Geng Shuang, the spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during his regular press briefing here.

“We have noted the relevant reports,” he said when his attention was drawn to a media report regarding the US administration considerations of beginning a policy review of relations towards Pakistan – mainly because of current ‘security’ situation in Afghanistan. He said that Pakistan was an important country in South Asia.

In Pakistan, peace, stability and economic development serves the interest of regional countries and people, he said. To a question about the Chinese foreign minister’s proposed visits to Islamabad and Kabul, he said both Pakistan and Afghanistan were China’s neighbours and they have friendly relations with the two countries as well as close high levels exchanges.

“If we have any information regarding the visit, we will release it in due course of time,” he said. The spokesperson remarked that China sincerely hopes that Pakistan and Afghanistan could enhance their communication so as to deepen mutual trust and improve relations. “They should also work together to improve and ensure regional peace and stability and China would like to play a constructive role towards that end,” he added.

While brushing aside a question that China has offered Pakistan to build a dam in Gilgit-Baltistan and integrate it with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said the corridor was a new cooperation framework to achieve a long-term development. He said that this corridor would not only promote bilateral development but also contribute prosperity of the region.

“We know that there are some ‘concerns’ about this corridor but we keep stressing that this economic corridor is just an economic initiative for cooperation and it targets no third country and does not connect with any sovereign disputes,” he added. Geng hoped that the disputes between Pakistan and India would be resolved properly through consultations and negotiations.

Regarding a question about update on two Chinese nationals kidnapped in Pakistan, he said that the Chinese government attaches high importance to this case. “We are still coordinating with the Pakistani side to verify the situation.” On the appointment of the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, he said China has extended its congratulations to the new crown prince.

“We believe that stability and development of Saudi Arabia serves common interests of regional countries and the international community,” he said. He also said that China and Saudi Arabia were comprehensive strategic partners and Chinese side stands ready to work with Saudi Arabia to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and promote the greater development of the relations.