Tuesday, 27 January 2015

China considers Pak concerns as its own

Beijing asks Delhi to first meet N-standards | Foreign Minister Wang Yi says ‘iron brothers’ share destiny | COAS urges world to understand changing environment, coordinate against terror


RAWALPINDI - At an important point in time, China has once again reaffirmed friendship with Pakistan and said that both the countries share concerns on a range of issues both in the region and beyond.




Meng Jianzhu, member of Politburo — Communist Party’s second highest council — on Monday had a meeting with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif and termed China’s relationship with Pakistan “beyond individuals”.

“Pakistan’s concern is China’s concern,” he said.

The COAS’ visit to China has attained significance against the backdrop of US President Barack Obama’s visit to India, as it is believed as a step to tilt balance in favour of India with regards to China, Pakistan and regional politics.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif’s visit to China has opened new doors of cooperation between the two countries.
The army chief held important meetings with the Chinese leadership, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Asim Bajwa tweeted.

In a meeting with the COAS, State Leader and Peoples Conference Chairman Yu Zhengsheng also termed Pakistan as the “most reliable friend” and said just as Pakistan has always stood by China, the Chinese government and its people will stand with Pakistan and help it in all respects.

General Raheel thanked the Chinese leadership for its support to Pakistan and said, “The world must understand the evolving environment .
.
.
greater international focus, coordination [is required] to logically conclude the fight [against] terrorism.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Pakistan is China’s “irreplaceable, all-weather friend” and that both the countries are part of a community of shared destiny.

Meanwhile, China called on India to take more steps to satisfy the standards of a global organisation that controls atomic exports after US President Barack Obama said the United States was in favour of India joining the group.

Obama reaffirmed on the weekend during a visit to India the US position that India is ready for membership into the 48-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), according to a US-India joint statement.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said India’s admission to the group “requires very careful consideration from all the member countries”.

“We support the group carrying out discussions on admitting new members and at the same time we encourage India to take the next steps to satisfy the relevant standards of the group,” Hua told a daily news briefing.
She did not elaborate.

The United States, Britain and other members have argued in favour of India joining the organisation, established in 1975 to ensure that civilian nuclear trade is not diverted for military aims.

But India would be the only member of the suppliers’ group that has not signed up to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a 189-nation treaty set up four decades ago to prevent states from acquiring nuclear weapons.

This has caused some NSG states to raise doubts about India joining the group, which plays a pivotal role in countering nuclear threats and proliferation.
Some also argue that it could erode the credibility of the NPT, a cornerstone of global nuclear disarmament efforts.

India has yet to formally apply to join the NSG and would need the support of all member states in order to be successful.

Diplomats have said China was among the doubtful countries.
Its reservations may be influenced by its close ties to Pakistan, India’s rival, which has also tested atomic bombs and is also outside the NPT, analysts say.

Separately, Hua criticised both Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for statements calling for “freedom of navigation and overflight throughout the region, especially in the South China Sea”.

“We hope that external countries can play a constructive role on the South China Sea issue,” she said.

China claims most of the South China Sea and rejects claims to parts of it by neighbours including the Philippines and Vietnam.
It also rejects outside calls for negotiations between the rival claimants.

No comments:

Post a Comment