Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning

Responding to Indian media's inquiries about border issues and the China‑Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday that the area in question "belongs to China," adding that " it is beyond reproach for China to carry out infrastructure construction on its own territory."

China and Pakistan signed a boundary agreement in the 1960s and demarcated borders between the two countries. The settlement was an exercise of the rights of two sovereign states, said the spokesperson.

Mao said the CPEC is an economic cooperation project intended to promote local economic and social development and improve people's livelihoods. Mao stressed that the border agreement between China and Pakistan, and the CPEC do not affect China's position on the Kashmir issue, adding that China's position on this matter has not changed.

India on Friday criticized China's infrastructure development projects in Shaksgam Valley and said that it reserves the right to take necessary measures to safeguard its interests as it is an Indian territory, according to Indian media outlets reported.

Launched in 2013, CPEC, a flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, is a corridor linking Gwadar Port in Pakistan with Kashgar in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which highlights energy, transport, and industrial cooperation in the first phase, while in the new phase, it expands to fields of agriculture and livelihood, among others, the Xinhua News Agency reported.


Global Times