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China welcomes ceasefire in J&K

After initial hesitation, China Friday welcomed India's unilateral Ramzan ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir and hoped that it would lead to an "improvement" in India-Pakistan relations.

"The Chinese position on the Kashmir issue is clear. We welcome all the efforts conducive to the improvement of relations between India and Pakistan and relaxation of the regional situation," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said.

In its initial comment on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's unilateral cease-fire decision on November 19, the Chinese foreign ministry said that China hopes that India and Pakistan will resolve their differences, including the Kashmir dispute, through peaceful means.

"We hope both India and Pakistan will settle all their differences, including the dispute over Kashmir by peaceful means through dialogue and consultation," the Chinese foreign ministry said on November 20 without directly commenting on the ceasefire.

The statement went on to say that resolving the differences between India and Pakistan "is not only in line with the common interest of the people of both countries but also conducive to peace and stability in south Asia."

PTI

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