China objects to India's plans to hold G20 meeting in J&K

BEIJING: China on Thursday objected to India's plans to hold next year's G-20 leaders' meeting in Jammu and Kashmir, echoing close ally Pakistan's opposition and underlining that relevant parties should avoid "politicising" the issue.

While replying to a question from the official media during a press briefing on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said, "We have noted relevant information."

"China's position on Kashmir is consistent and clear cut. It is a legacy issue between India and Pakistan. It should be properly resolved in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and bilateral agreements," Zhao said.

He said the "relevant parties should avoid complicating the situation with the unilateral move. We need to address the disputes through dialogue and consultation and jointly uphold peace and stability."

Zhao said that G-20 is a premier forum for international economic cooperation and added, "We call on relevant sides to focus on economic recovery and avoid politicising the relevant issue so as to make a positive contribution to improving the global economic governance".

When asked about China's attendance at the meeting he said, "whether we attend the meeting, we will look into that."

On asked about India's objection to China building the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in the disputed region in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), Zhao said "the two matters are completely different in nature. China has undertaken projects to help Pakistan to grow its economy and improve livelihoods."

"Some of those projects are in the Kashmir part that is under the control of Pakistan. Relevant Chinese companies who run the projects do so with the aim of helping the local people to develop the economy and improve their livelihoods," he said.

"That doesn't mean our position on Kashmir has changed," he said.

Pakistan had earlier on June 25 objected to India's attempt to hold a meeting of G20 countries in Kashmir.

Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad in a statement said "Pakistan completely rejects any such attempt by India."

With PTI inputs