China is ready to engage in talks with India to resolve their border differences in a "calm way."
Reacting to Indian Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale's interview to state-run Global Times where he said differences on the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) should not be ignored, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China was willing to address the issue.
"I noted the relevant report. Regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, China has repeatedly reiterated our position. As to the differences between China and India, China stands ready to communicate and hold talks with India to seek a proper solution so that these differences will not affect our general national interests. This best serves the interests of the two countries," she said, according to PTI.
The CPEC, which is a network of infrastructure projects that are underway in Pakistan, passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to have raised the issue with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping during his visit to China in 2015.
Under CPEC, a number of modernised highways and railways will be built throughout Pakistan that will aid Pakistan's economic growth. The CPEC became partly operational in November 2016, when Chinese cargo was transported to Gwadar Port in Pakistan.
Calling the CPEC one of the most important initiatives, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan on Monday said the project was proof of China and Pakistan's everlasting friendship.
“This is perhaps the most important initiative of our generation and the most visible part of the Belt and Road Initiative,” he said, according to reports.
Highlighting the importance of CPEC, Khaqan said: “CPEC, today, for Pakistan is this reality; the Gwadar port, the Gwadar Free Zone, the Eastway expressway and other projects in Gwadar.
“It is the motorways and the highways that are linking Gwadar to Khunjerab, that are linking Peshawar to Karachi. It is the modernisation of our railway system. It is the establishment of the power projects…and it is the special economic zones that will generate employment, that will create export for Pakistan and that will give prosperity to people of Pakistan.”
