“China and Pakistan are close neighbors enjoying traditional friendship. Defense and security cooperation is part of the normal cooperation between the two countries and does not target any third party”, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday. He was asked to comment on remarks from India that China was providing support to Pakistan during the recent India-Pakistan conflict, according to a report carried by Gwadar Pro.

“I am not familiar with the specifics you mentioned,” Mao Ning responded. She emphasized that India and Pakistan are and will always be each other’s neighbors, and they are important neighbors of China as well.

“Over the past weeks and months, China has closely followed the developments between India and Pakistan, actively promoted talks for peace, and worked to maintain regional peace and stability,” she stated.

“China welcomes and supports India and Pakistan in properly settling differences and seeking fundamental solutions through dialogue and consultation.

China stands ready to continue playing a constructive role for this end,” Mao Ning noted. Further, in response to the Indian reporter’s claims that China was closely helping Pakistan at the cost of India, Mao Ning reaffirmed that China-Pakistan relations do not target any third party, which is China's policy, and China supports India and Pakistan in properly addressing differences through dialogue and consultation and jointly keeping the region peaceful and stable.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China