China says will firmly support Pakistan's anti-terrorism efforts, both reaffirm position of Kashmir issue

Beijing/Islamabad: In an apparent reference to the abrogation of Article 370, China and Pakistan have both reaffirmed their opposition to "unilateral action" and reiterated the need for resolution of all outstanding issues in the region.

A China-Pakistan joint statement issued in connection with Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to Islamabad, referred to their stated position on the Kashmir issue and said it needs to be resolved in accordance with relevant international laws and bilateral agreements.

Premier Li, who was in Islamabad to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, (SCO) summit that ended on Wednesday, had reached early to hold bilateral talks and meetings with Pakistan's civilian and military leadership amid increased instances of terror attacks on Chinese nationals.

The visit by Li, who also inaugurated the Chinese built Gwadar International Airport, is a first by a Chinese Premier in 11 years and came amid mounting concerns in Beijing over the recurring attacks by the Baloch militants on the Chinese nationals working in the scores of projects under USD 60 billion CPEC.

A China-Pakistan joint statement said: “The two sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in South Asia and the need for resolution of all outstanding disputes, and their opposition to any unilateral action.”

Even as the Pakistani side briefed the Chinese side on the latest developments of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the Chinese side reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute “is left over from history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements.”

However, the joint statement made no direct mention of the abrogation of Article 370 by India in August 2019.

Pakistan has opposed the move that withdrew special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two union territories while China has objected to the formation of Ladakh as a union territory saying it undermined its territorial sovereignty.

Li’s visit to Pakistan took place in the immediate aftermath of the suicide bomb attack by the BLA militants on a Chinese convoy resulting in the death of two and injuries to another.

In Beijing, commenting on the visit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning played down the speculation that the recurring militants attacks and the prevailing political chaos in Pakistan are impacting their bilateral strategic ties.

“China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic partners and have iron-clad friendship. … Premier Li Qiang had extensive and in-depth exchanges with leaders of the Pakistani government, parliament and military which achieved 'positive results',” she said.

Both sides agreed that the "ironclad friendship" between China and Pakistan has become stronger and stronger over time, she said.

“China reiterated that it would place China-Pakistan relations as a priority in China's diplomacy,” she said, which is also part of the joint statement.

Mao said Islamabad emphasised that relations with China are the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy and friendship with China is a high degree of consensus among all sectors of Pakistani society.

Both sides agreed to continue to firmly support “each other's core interests, strengthen high-level exchanges, work together on the road to achieving each other's modernisation and national rejuvenation,” she added.

Asked whether China will provide security to hundreds of Chinese personnel working in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, Mao said, “During Li's visit, Pakistan promised to unswervingly increase security investment, strengthen security measures, and ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan.”

“China will firmly support Pakistan's anti-terrorism efforts, and is willing to help Pakistan strengthen its anti-terrorism capacity building and work with Pakistan to create a safe environment for cooperation between the two countries,” she said.

Both sides also reiterated that they would combat terrorism with a 'zero tolerance' attitude.

China and Pakistan also agreed to deepen the docking of development strategies, jointly build an 'upgraded version' of the CPEC, accelerate the construction of major projects in the fields of railways, roads, ports. They also agreed to deepen practical cooperation in agriculture, mining, information technology, energy, economy and trade.