Beijing urges proper resolution of Kashmir dispute

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Pakistani Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Beijing on Friday. （FENG YONGBIN/CHINA DAILY）

China is gravely concerned by the escalating tensions in Kashmir and believes there should be no unilateral actions that complicate the situation, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Beijing on Friday.

Wang spoke when meeting Pakistani Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who made an emergency trip to China and informed Wang of Pakistan's position on developments in Kashmir and measures it has taken.

The Kashmir issue is a dispute left over from colonial history, and should be solved peacefully and properly according to the United Nations Charter, UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements between Pakistan and India, Wang said.

China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners who have always understood and supported each other over issues concerning their core interests, Wang said, adding that China will continue to firmly support Pakistan in safeguarding its legitimate interests and uphold justice for Pakistan internationally.

Qureshi's visit came two days before Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar's China visit, which starts on Sunday.

Tensions between Pakistan and India over Kashmir rose after India revoked the special status of the region's Indian-controlled portion by presidential decree on Monday. The decision triggered strong opposition from Pakistan, which then downgraded diplomatic ties and suspended trade with India.

Pakistan and India have long had skirmishes in Kashmir. They traded heavy fire in the region on July 30.

Both countries are China's friendly neighbors that are at a crucial stage of development, Wang said, calling for the two countries to handle their historical grudge properly and avoid unilateral actions.

Qureshi said China is Pakistan's long-trusted friend, and that he believes China will uphold justice over the Kashmir issue. Pakistan will continue to support China's legitimate position in issues concerning China's core interests without any hesitation, he said.