M A I N   N E W S

China asks India, Pak to hold talks

BEIJING, Jan 18 (PTI) — China today appealed to India and Pakistan to end their nuclear arms race, sink differences and become good neighbours to help maintain peace in South Asia.

“China sincerely hopes that India and Pakistan will effectively implement the UN Security Council Resolution 1172, prevent the further escalation of the arms race in the region and work together to preserve peace and stability in the region,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao told newsmen.

The Security Council adopted the resolution on June 6, 1998, asking India and Pakistan to sign the CTBT, NPT and find a mutually acceptable solution to the vexed Kashmir issue.

Responding to a question on the Kashmir issue, Mr Zhu noted “we hope that they (India and Pakistan) can through peaceful consultations handle properly various differences. We hope they can become good neighbours, good friends, good partners.”

Briefing newsmen on the two-day official visit by Pakistani military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf, the spokesman said Gen Musharraf met with senior Chinese leader and Parliamentary Speaker Li Peng today.

The Pakistani Chief Executive told Mr Li that Pakistan was opposed to all forms of terrorism and fundamentalism, Mr Zhu said.

“Pakistan is devoted to peace and stability in South Asia region and is willing to resolve all its issues with India, including the Kashmir issue, through peaceful means,” Mr Zhu quoted Gen Musharraf as telling Mr Li.

The military ruler said “Pakistan has always been opposed to terrorism and it is opposed to terrorist activities by any people, any group, any country by using the religious reason.”

Commenting on the talks between Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and Gen Musharraf here yesterday, the Foreign Ministry spokesman stated that the talks have consolidated Sino-Pakistani relations.

Earlier in the day China said its relations with Pakistan had not been affected by the military coup there as friendship between the two neighbours is “deeply entrenched” and has “withstood the test of time”.

The enhanced Chinese support for Pakistani military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf came during his meeting with the Chinese Parliament Speaker and senior Communist party leader Li Peng.

Welcoming Gen Musharraf to China, Mr Li, who is second in the party hierarchy, noted that China and Pakistan’s friendship dated back to the “ancient times and was deeply entrenched”.

“The friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries have been strengthened while cooperation in political, economic, military, scientific, cultural and other fields had borne fruits,” Mr Li, Chairman of the National Peoples Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao told reporters that China’s relations with Pakistan had not been affected by the military coup on October 12 which ousted the Nawaz Sharif government.

Asked whether Chinese leaders had asked Gen Musharraf for an early return to civilian rule during the talks, Mr Zhu said the issue was not China’s concern.