BEIJING, March 07 (INP): Chinese Vice Foreign minister Kong Xuanyou during his meetings with Pakistani leaders in Islamabad praised their role exercising restrain in heightening tension with India.

He visited Pakistan to discuss the recent developments relating to peace and stability in South Asia.

According to the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Kong Xuanyou while commending Pakistan called upon both the countries to refrain from aggravating the situation and uphold regional peace and stability through dialogue at an early date.

In fact, the main mission of Kong Xuanyou’s visit to Islamabad was to exchange views on the prevailing situation, the spokesperson said at a regular news briefing here on Thursday.

He informed that the Chinese minister held in-depth talks with Prime Minister Imran Khan, COAS, Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua.

Meanwhile, the Chinese media reported that China is willing to play a constructive role in improving relations between Pakistan and India.

China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners which have always shared firm mutual support in issues concerning each other's core interests, Kong Xuanyou said during his meetings with the Pakistani leadership on Wednesday.

China maintained that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, and China does not wish to see any actions that violate rules of international relations, said Kong.

The Pakistani officials said China is Pakistan's most reliable friend and views Pakistan's relationship with China as the cornerstone of the country's diplomacy.

Pakistan appreciated China remaining objective and fair over the current Pakistan-India situation, and thanked China for its efforts to reduce the tensions, according to the officials.

The Pakistani side reiterated that Pakistan does not want to see escalating tensions, and is willing to solve the conflicts and differences peacefully with India through dialogues, said the officials, adding that Pakistan expects China and the international community to play constructive roles in this regard.