BEIJING - Assistant Foreign Minister of China, Liu Jianchao said Monday that China strongly supports improvement in Pakistan-India relations, and that is ready to help resolve outstanding issues through dialogue between the two countries.

“We strongly support improvement in relations between Pakistan and India. We appreciate Pakistan’s efforts for normalisation,” he said.

The comments from the Chinese foreign ministry follow a recent spike in tensions and deadly clashes along the disputed Kashmir border between Pakistan and India.

“We hope both sides put aside their differences and come to the negotiating table to resolve their outstanding issues,” said Liu.

Liu said the Chinese leadership was eager to receive Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his upcoming visit to China, during which the two countries would sign important agreements to further enhance bilateral cooperation.

“These agreements would further expand and deepen relations between China and Pakistan,” he told a delegation from Pakistan led by Parliamentary Secretary on Finance and Economic Affairs, Rana Muhammad Afzal.(Monitoring Desk)