CPEC development won't affect stance on Kashmir: China

BEIJING: The Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said during a recent press conference that the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will not affect China's stance on the issue of Kashmir. 

During a press conference, a journalist asked the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson to comment on India's objections to Pakistan's plans to declare Gilgit-Baltistan its fifth province, which is one of the areas where the CPEC will go through. 

"On the Kashmir issue, China's position is consistent and clear-cut. As a leftover issue from history between India and Pakistan, it needs to be properly settled through dialogue and consultation between the two sides. The development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor does not affect China's position on the Kashmir issue," she said.

When asked about whether Pakistan and China discussed cooperation on the production of ballistic missiles, she said that Pakistan and China 'maintain normal defense exchanges and cooperation in military industry and trade.'

"On the visit of Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Bajwa to China, relevant readouts have already been released about his meetings with Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, Vice Chairman Fan Changlong of the Central Military Commission and Chief of the Joint Staff Department Fang Fenghui. I do not have any specific information regarding the question you raised. But I can tell you that China and Pakistan maintain normal defense exchanges and cooperation in military industry and trade," she said.