Kashmir issue should be resolved bilaterally between India, Pak, says China ahead of Xi-Modi summit in Chennai

Just days ahead of President's Xi meeting with PM Modi in Chennai, China called on "India and Pakistan to step up dialogue on disputes including the Kashmir issue to enhance mutual trust and improve relations."

"China and India are important neighbours to each other. Both are large developing countries as well as major emerging markets. Since the Wuhan Informal Summit last year, China-India relations have shown sound momentum of development," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said.

"The two sides have steadily advanced cooperation in various fields and properly manage differences and sensitive issues," the foreign ministry spokesman added.

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In August, China had called a consultative meet at the UNSC in the backdrop of India removing the special status for the erstwhile state for Jammu and Kashmir. The move found no support at the U.N. body which saw Russia, France, UK and US backing India.

On Tuesday, in an apparent softening of its stand, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said: "China's position on the issue of Kashmir is consistent and clear. We call on India and Pakistan to step up dialogue on disputes including the Kashmir issue to enhance mutual trust and improve relations."

"It serves the common interests of both India and Pakistan and represents the shared expectation of regional countries and the international community," the foreign ministry spokesman added.

China's statement comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are due to meet in Chennai's seaside heritage town of Mamallapuram for an informal summit from October 11 to 13.

The first India-China informal summit had taken place in Wuhan in April of 2018. During last year's Wuhan informal summit, leaders of both India and China gave strategic guidance to forces of both the countries to avoid the repetition of the Doklam crisis.