CPEC not against third party, declares China

ISLAMABAD: China has said that the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will “not target any third party”, a day after India reaffirmed its objection to the multibillion dollar project.
According to the international media, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the USD 46 billion economic corridor with Pakistan was a major cooperation framework between the two countries.
“It is not only of great significance for promoting the development of China and Pakistan but also of great significance to the stability and development of the whole region,” she said, adding it will not affect China’s stand on the Kashmir issue.
“As for the Kashmir region, it is an issue between Pakistan and India. This issue should be properly resolved through negotiations and consultations by India and Pakistan. “Relevant cooperation carried by China in the relevant region will not target any third party and will not affect China’s position on the relevant issue,” she said.
Her comments came after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said at a press conference in New Delhi that India has conveyed its objections to China over the CPEC as it goes through Azad Kashmir.
“This time we did not keep it there. We lodged protest calling the Chinese ambassador. We lodged protest through our ambassador there (Beijing). And when the prime minister had gone there (to China), he talked about it very firmly. He raised it very strongly that it is not acceptable to us what you are talking about China-Pakistan economic corridor going to PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir),” Swaraj had said in response to a question.
Meanwhile, Hua laced her comments to the questions during a media briefing here, recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s successful visit here last month. “I would like to express congratulation on the successful state visit by Prime Minister Modi to China. The leaders of the two countries during the visit exchanged a lot of important consensus on enhancing cooperation in various fields demonstrating the willingness of the two countries to build a more closely-knit partnership for development.
“The Chinese side is ready to make joint efforts with the Indian side to enhance political and strategic mutual trust and push forward the China-India cooperative partnership for prosperity,” she said.