World should respect Pak stance on terrorism: China

BEIJING: China backed Pakistan on Tuesday applauding its recent counter-terrorism measures. "China commends Pakistan's recent strong counter-terrorism measures at home," Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters after meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi. "We fully support Pakistan in carrying through its counterterrorism campaign," Wang said on Tuesday.

Since March 5, Pakistani authorities have arrested hundreds of suspected Islamist militants and shuttered more than 700 madaris, mosques, and welfare outfits linked to banned groups. "We also call on the international community to adopt a fair perspective of the commitments and efforts made by Pakistan over the years to combat terrorism," Wang said as he stood beside Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Wang said China has always believed that peace and stability in South Asia is in the mutual interests of countries in the region and this is what the international community wishes. “China appreciates Pakistan’s constructive efforts to ease the situation and calls on Pakistan and India to continue to exercise restraint and resolve the differences that exist via dialogue and peaceful means.” Wang welcomed Qureshi to Beijing by noting China calls Pakistan "our iron friends" because Islamabad "provides us with iron-like support" on Beijing's core issues of concern. "Of course, China does the same," Wang said.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said his country once again appreciates the role China played “in standing by Pakistan in these difficult times”. “I also briefed the foreign minister on the rapidly deteriorating situation on the Indian side of Kashmir, intensification of human rights violations, especially after Pulwama,” he said. “This is a concern because that leads to a reaction and that reaction at times creates tensions in the region which must be avoided,” Qureshi added. “I think there’s a need for a new assessment on how

Kashmir should be handled by the Indians. There are now voices within India that are questioning the efficacy of the policy that they’ve followed for the last so many years,” he said.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is on an offi9cial visit to China, also called on Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan in Beijing.The foreign minister conveyed greetings of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Vice President Wang Qishan.

He said the Prime Minister of Pakistan is looking forward to visit them next month to attend the 2nd Belt and Road Forum.Reaffirming the time-tested and all weather strategic cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China, the vice president expressed satisfaction at the upward trajectory of bilateral ties since the visit of the prime minister to China in November 2018.

The vice president assured Foreign Minister Qureshi of China’s unwavering support for Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and for its socio-economic development.

The foreign minister thanked the Vice President for China’s steadfast support to Pakistan. He briefed the vice president on the recent developments in the region and thanked China for playing an important role in easing of tensions.

The foreign minister briefed the vice president on progress in development of China Pakistan Economic Corridor.Both sides agreed that smooth implementation of the CPEC will greatly contribute to socio-economic development of Pakistan.The foreign minister is on a visit to China for the inaugural round of Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue.