China on Monday kept mum on Pakistan Foreign Minister ShahMohammad Qureshi’s claim that Beijing plans to send a special envoy to Pakistanand India to ease tensions following the Pulwama attack, but said the twocountries can resolve their differences through friendly negotiations.
Pakistani media on March 2 quoted Qureshi as saying thatChina has decided to send a special envoy to Pakistan and India in a bid toreduce the tensions in the region.
Asked about Qureshi’s reported remarks, Chinese ForeignMinistry spokesman Lu Kang said, “As to your question, like we said before, wereally hope India and Pakistan, both important countries in South Asia, canresolve the relevant issues through friendly consultations andnegotiations.”
“In order to ease the tensions, China has maintained closecommunication with both India and Pakistan. Whatever is conducive to regionalpeace and stability, China will try to do that, and we will continue to doso,” Lu said, without referring to any plans to send a special envoy.
To a related question whether China is ready to play amediation role between India and Pakistan as Russian Foreign Minister SergeyLavrov said Russia is also ready for it, Lu said, “We welcome all the effortsthat are conducive to easing tensions and promoting peace and stability in thisregion.”
“Actually, we have been in close contact with both India andPakistan, and we will continue to do so and to play a conducive role,” hesaid.