China’s position on Kashmir is clear & consistent: Zhao Lijian

By Riaz Ahmad Malik
China’s position on the Kashmir issue is consistent and clear-cut. The Kashmir issue, a dispute left from the past, should be peacefully and properly addressed in accordance with the UN Charter, Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreement. Parties concerned need to avoid unilateral moves that may complicate the situation. Efforts should be made to settle the dispute through dialogue and consultation so as to maintain regional peace and stability.
The G20 is the premier forum for international economic and financial cooperation. We call on all major economies to focus on steady recovery of the world economy, avoid politicizing relevant cooperation and make positive contribution to improving global economic governance.?
This was stated by the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian in reply to question that meetings of the G20 summit will be hosted in disputed areas of Jammu and Kashmir in 2023. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry issued a statement to express opposition. What’s China’s comment on this? He added that China has undertaken some projects in Pakistan to help grow its economy and improve people’s livelihood. These projects are in Pakistan-occupied areas of Kashmir. Relevant Chinese companies conduct the relevant projects with the purpose of helping Pakistan to develop its economy and improve people’s livelihood. This does not affect China’s position on the Kashmir issue. To another question that on June 29, the Karot hydropower project was put into full commercial operation. Can you share more details about it? And what was China’s comment on that? Zhao Lijian said that let me extend congratulations on the start of full commercial operation of the Karot Hydropower Plant. The Karot Hydropower Plant is a priority project for energy cooperation and the first large-scale hydropower investment project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The project was listed in the joint statement of the Chinese and Pakistani governments. Workers from both countries overcame difficulties and challenges together to complete the project, a process that took them seven years. With a total installed capacity of 720,000 kilowatts, the Karot Hydropower Plant will generate an average of 3.2 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year, which can meet the electricity demand of around five million people in the region and effectively reduce power shortage in Pakistan and improve the country’s energy structure. It is expected to save about 1.4 million tonnes of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 3.5 million tonnes per year, which will help achieve the global “carbon neutral” target and make new contributions to global climate response.