BEIJING: China said on Monday it is ready to discuss Indian concerns about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which passes through areas claimed by India.
The reaction comes soon after the Indian ambassador in Beijing, Gautam Bambawale, told a Beijing-based newspaper that India has serious problems with CPEC which should be discussed and not be pushed "under the carpet".
"Regarding the CPEC, 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," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.
In an interview with "Global Times", Bambawale said India and China have made significant progress in their relationship but differences like the $50 billion CPEC project and the trade imbalance need to be discussed. Beijing is investing over $50 billion in a corridor stretching nearly 1,400 km, from the Chinese border areas of Xinjiang to Gwadar port in Pakistan's Baluchistan province, providing China with connectivity with the Arabian Sea.
"The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor passes through Indian-claimed territory and hence violates our territorial integrity. This is a major problem for us," Bambawale said in a hard-hitting interview. "We need to talk about it, not push it under the carpet. I believe the more we talk to each other, the easier it will become to resolve problems," he said.
Hua said the goal of CPEC was economic development of a backward area of Pakistan and it was not aimed at hurting India in any way. "CPEC is merely an economic cooperation project. It has not targeted any third party. We hope the Indian side can put this in perspective and we stand ready to strengthen cooperation with the Indian side," she said.
"As to any differences arising between the two countries, they can be resolved with sincerity and mutual respect," she said, adding, "We should not ask one party alone to solve this problem. We are willing to work with India to work with dialogue and communication for a better solution."
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