China played positive role during ‘Pak-India crisis’: FM

ISLAMABAD, Mar 18 (APP):Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday said China had played a positive role during the recent escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan.
Talking to a private television channel, the foreign minister said during his visit to China, he would hold strategic level dialogue with the Chinese leadership for focusing on efforts to maintain long-lasting peace in the region.
During the visit, he said, both the sides would also hold comprehensive discussions on the entire range of bilateral relations including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The foreign minister said the visit was primarily focusing on taking the Chinese leadership into confidence on regional and global issues.
He said China and Pakistan had always taken each other into confidence in areas of mutual interest. “I have shared Pakistan’s view with China on recent tensions with India”, he added.
The foreign minister, who is on a three-day visit to China, will hold meetings with the Chinese leadership to discuss bilateral and regional situation and attend first Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue.
He said China remained the true friend of Pakistan, adding avenues would be discussed for further deepening and broadening the existing bilateral relations between the two countries.
He said the Chinese President Xi Jinping had invited Prime Minister Imran Khan for next month CPEC flagship programme for holding discussions with the Chinese leadership.
He said the programme would be attended by the leaders of 36 countries. Pakistan would also discuss its role and support on CPEC during the programme, he added.
Responding to a question, he said actions were taken against the banned outfits as per the Nation Action Plan (NAP).
He said the plan was developed after evolving political consensus among all political parties, adding the nation was expecting that the parliamentarians would play their due role in prioritizing economic development of the country.