Wang YiWANG ZHAO  

China on Friday called upon India and Pakistan to look ahead and turn the current dip in their ties into an opportunity to “fundamentally” improve their relationship through dialogue.

Addressing an annual press conference on the sidelines of the session of the National People’s Congress (NPC), State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, for the first time, affirmed that China was engaged in “mediation efforts” to ease tensions between India and Pakistan.

Mr. Wang’s remarks follow the visit to Pakistan by Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou, amid speculation that the senior Chinese diplomat also intends to visit India. “This is the second time that a Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister is being sent to Pakistan and India — the first time was in 1999 during the Kargil war,” said Liu Zongyi, senior fellow of Shanghai Institutes for International Studies .

In response to a question, Mr. Wang reiterated China’s advocacy for a dialogue between India and Pakistan, which he said should be guided by a long-term vision of the two countries to turnaround their ties.

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