BEIJING: When asked to comment on claims by the India reports that China follows “36 stratagems” to provide all possible support to Pakistan during India-Pakistan conflict, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday that she doesn’t know the specifics of the matter, but China and Pakistan are traditional friendly neighbors, and defense and security cooperation is part of the normal cooperation between the two countries and is not directed against a third party.
India and Pakistan are immovable neighbors, and both are important neighbors of China, she said.
For some time now, China has been closely following the development of the situation between India and Pakistan, and has been actively promoting peace and negotiation to maintain peace and stability in the region. “We welcome and support the efforts of India and Pakistan to properly address their differences through dialogue and consultation and to seek fundamental solutions. China is also willing to continue to play a constructive role to that end,” Mao said.
Referring to the China-India relations, Mao added that China-India relations are indeed at a critical stage of improvement and development. “We are willing to work with the Indian side to promote China-India relations to continue moving forward along a healthy and stable track.”
When asked to comment on claims that the China-Pakistan friendship is not aimed at any third party, but during previous India-Pakistan conflicts, China closely assisted Pakistan at the expense of India, Mao said on Monday that China-Pakistan relations are not directed at any third party, and that China encourages both India and Pakistan to properly resolve differences through dialogue and consultations and jointly uphold regional peace and stability. –Agencies
