BEIJING: China opposed the Indian plan of holding a G20 meeting in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir and called on the member of the grouping to focus on economic recovery and avoid politicizing the issue.
“China’s position on Kashmir is consistent and clear cut. It is a legacy issue between India and Pakistan,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said during his regular briefing in response to a question regarding the Indian attempt to hold G20 meeting in the occupied area of Jammu and Kashmir.
“It should be properly resolved in accordance with the relevant United Nations (UN) resolutions and bilateral agreement. Relevant parties should avoid complicating the situation with unilateral moves,” Zhao said Thursday.
G20 meeting in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, reiterating that the region is under New Delhi’s forcible and illegal occupation.
As per reports, India is planning to host the 2023 meetings of the G20 and its Ministry of External Affairs has issued directives to the authorities in the occupied territory to ensure necessary arrangements.
Noting the relevant information, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson stressed on the need to address disputes through dialogue and consultations and jointly uphold peace and stability.
“We need to address disputes through dialogue and consultation and jointly uphold peace and stability,” he said.
Lijian remarked that G20 is a premier forum for international economic cooperation and called on relevant sides to focus on economic recovery and avoid politicizing the relevant issue so as to make positive contribution to improving global economic governance.
Pakistan has already rejected India’s unilateral attempt to hold the G-20 meeting in IIOJK, reiterating that the region was under New Delhi’s forcible and illegal occupation. Zhao stressed the need for addressing the disputes through dialogue and consultations.
He remarked that G-20 was a premier forum for international economic cooperation. He called on the relevant sides to focus on economic recovery and avoid politicising the issue so as to make positive contribution to improving the global economic governance.
Responding to another question, Spokesperson Zhao said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) work in the region was completely different from holding the G-20 meeting in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
“China has undertaken projects to help Pakistan to grow its economy and improve livelihood,” he said. “That doesn’t mean our position on Kashmir is changed. I have already elaborated on our stern position on Kashmir.” –Agencies
When asked whether China would attend the meeting, the foreign minister spokesperson said the Chinese side would look into that.
India is part of the G20 grouping comprising major economies of the world including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
