Chinese envoy calls on Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing was the first foreign envoy posted in Islamabad who visited the Foreign Office on Tuesday in the wake of the Indian aggression at Balakot and had meeting with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Well-placed sources told The News that the Chinese ambassador expressed solidarity with the foreign minister and conveyed an important message of his government to Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Ambassador Yao Jing later told this scribe that China is desirous of lowering tension between Pakistan and India. It has impressed upon the two sides to work for de-escalation. He also referred to the statement made by Chinese spokesman in Beijing earlier in the day after the Indian air force act.

The ambassador said that Foreign Minister Qureshi has given the whole account of the events and made it clear that Pakistan isn’t interested in enhancing tension. Islamabad is prepared to engage New Delhi but it must desist from worsening the situation.

The Chinese ambassador reminded that Beijing has been asking Pakistan and India both to concentrate on eliminating terrorism and they should devote their attention on development and progress of their people and country.

Ambassador Yao Jing had extensive meeting with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. The ambassador briefed the Foreign Minister that his country has called for restraint from both Pakistan and India saying that a sound relationship and cooperation between the two nations serves the interests of the international community as well as peace and stability in South Asia.

He said that his country has taken the notice of the reports pertaining to the airspace violations along the Line of Control (LOC) by India and dropping of the payload by the intruder Indian plans. The Chinese envoy expressed the hope that the two countries would exercise restraint and do more to improve their bilateral relations.