China today welcomed the efforts by India and Pakistan to strengthen the ceasefire on the Line of Control, saying improvement in ties between the two neighbours is of great significance for the whole region.
Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations yesterday invited his Indian counterpart for a meeting on December 24 to discuss ways to ensure ceasefire on the Line of Control. India has accepted it and the meeting will be held on the Pakistan side of the Wagah border.
"We welcome the efforts made by Pakistan and India for ceasefire in the area around Kashmir. Pakistan and India are important nations in South Asia. Improvement of their relationship is of great significance to the whole region," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said here.
"As a friend and neighbour to both Pakistan and India, China will stay committed to supporting the two sides in solving their differences through dialogue and consultations," Hua said in a press briefing.
The DGMOs of India and Pakistan have not held any meetings in the past few years. Indian DGMO Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia and his Pakistani counterpart Maj Gen Amir Riaz spoke on their hotline on October 25 and 29.
On September 29, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif agreed on a meeting between the DGMOs when they held talks on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York.
