The South China Morning Post reported (March 8) that at a press conference on the sidelines of the NPC on March 8, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi claimed Beijing had played a “constructive role” in defusing tensions between India and Pakistan over the terrorist attack on Indian security forces in Pulwama. He said that New Delhi and Islamabad should “meet each other halfway” to de-escalate the crisis. Describing Pakistan as "China's iron brother", Wang Yi said “China has stressed from the beginning the need to exercise calm and restraint, prevent an escalation, find out what has happened, and resolve the matter through dialogue.” He added “China hopes that Pakistan and India will transform the crisis into an opportunity and meet each other halfway. We advise both parties to quickly turn this page and seek fundamental, long-term improvement in their relations.” Wang Yi also said “Over the past year, government departments on both sides have done a lot and made considerable progress in following through on many of the understandings reached by our leaders. China will work with India to comprehensively strengthen sectoral cooperation and our people-to-people ties, which are of vital importance in the current context, so that our friendship and cooperation will surge ahead like the Yangtze and the Ganges, giving strong and sustained impetus to our relationship.”
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