Keeping economy first: China urges Pakistan to keep tensions with India 'minimum'

China has asked Pakistan to engage with India to keep tensions between the two countries to a minimum in order to maintain a conducive environment for timely completion of various projects under the ongoing multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, which forms a part of Beijing's ambitious transnational Belt Road Initiative (BRI).

An editorial published in Pakistan based English newspaper Daily Times read, "Keeping the economy first is a lesson that our state has yet to learn from its big brother in the hood."

The editorial also throws light upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi's informal talks, with Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled to take place on April 27-28 in Wuhan city, ahead of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in June.

According to it, "cautious" China's denial of constructing any hidden military base on the CPEC "could also be viewed through the prism of China's public reassurance to Islamabad that the Xi-Modi meeting scheduled for the end of this week will in no way dilute Sino-Pak friendship."

The editorial, however, expressing displeasure questions if Pakistan is playing its "due role," as the Editorial opines that the statement should have come from Pakistan.

"We appreciate the Chinese statement but cannot help wonder if the Pakistan Foreign Office and other policy quarters are playing their due role. For it is for Islamabad to keep its people and the world informed and manage the complex regional and international relationships," the editorial read.

 economictimes