China, in a statement cautioning India against interference, said that its China-Pakistan Economic Corridor linking the two countries is not directed against India, and the project should not be influenced or disturbed by any "third country".
The statement came on 27 December, a day after Beijing offered to extend the $50 billion project to Afghanistan at the first trilateral meeting of Foreign Ministers of China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan in Beijing on 26 December.
We stressed many times, CPEC is not directed at any third party and we hope it can bring benefits for a third country. It is an economic cooperation programme and it should not be politicised and has nothing to do with territorial dispute.Hua Chunying, Spokesperson, Chinese Foreign Ministry
The three sides have agreed to promote connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative framework, and follow the principle of starting from easy and smaller projects step-by-step to identify cooperation projects for common development, she said.
The CPEC, a flagship project of China’s prestigious One Belt One Road, links its restive Xinjiang region with Pakistan’s Balochistan province.
She said the project serves the common interests of China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
Though Hua did not directly name India, she was responding to a question on reports about India's concerns about CPEC, which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
During the trilateral meeting, a consensus was reached on an eight point plan to bring peace between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The consensus included a security mechanism to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation to fight all forms of terrorist organisations and terrorists, she added.
Afghanistan and Pakistan will promote the exchanges between their clerics and avoid the spread of religious extremism. Under the trilateral framework of the dialogue, the countries should follow the principle of mutual benefit and equal consultation.Hua Chunying, Spokesperson, Chinese Foreign Ministry
She said the three sides have agreed to stay committed to the four goals — support Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction and reconciliation peace process, help Afghanistan and Pakistan to improve and develop ties, promote joint security of the region, and promote regional connectivity through the Belt & Road Initiative.
(With inputs from PTI & IANS)
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