BEIJING, Sept 28 (APP): Assistant Foreign Minister of China for South Asia Hu Zhengyue said Monday that China being friendly neighbor of both Pakistan and India wanted a peaceful settlement to Kashmir dispute lingering between them since long.Talking to the visiting journalists from South Asia and South East Asia here at the Foreign Ministry, the Assistant Foreign Minister said “China will be happy if both Pakistan and India sit together and resolved the issue bilaterally”. China ready to play constructive role in easing the tension in the south Asian region, he added.

Describing terrorism as complicated problem in Afghanistan, the Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister said this is regional and global issue and the international community and regional countries should initiate solid efforts towards resolving this issue on sound footings.

He said we believe much to be done to ease the tension in Afghanistan however, the final decision has to be made by the Afghans.

The Chinese government he said is contributing its share in the development of that war torn country and pledged considerable chunk of amount for the welfare of Afghan people. China is the biggest investor in Afghanistan after the election of the new government there. The Chinese firms have initiated big projects in Afghanistan.

Mr.Hu explained that as responsible neighbor, China would do whatever possible for the development of Afghanistan.

In response to a question, he said, China would display its latest weapons at the 60th independence celebrations due for October 1, 2009 and defended China’s national security policy. Being country of 1.3 billion populations having 9.3 million square feet area, he said, China has every right to take step for its national defence. No country in the region has shown any concern about our national defence policy.  We have a very transparent and open defence policy and we wanted amicable settlement of the matters left by the history.

About SAARC, the Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister deliberated upon his government’s plan of increasing role in this regional entity. China, he said has been given status of Observer of SAARC last year and would play her role responsibly in the development of infrastructure of the member countries.

In next three to five years, China Mr.Hu said would spend 15 billion US dollars on the development of infrastructure of the member countries of the ASEAN that included construction of highways, bridges, shipping and ports etc.

About the development China made in last thirty years, he said it was all made possible due to help and support of the neighboring countries. We borrow experiences from the neighbors and we are thankful for their assistance to this effect.