Chinese, US FMs Discuss India-Pakistan Situation by Phone

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan discussed the India-Pakistan situation with US Secretary of State Colin Powell over the phone Monday, calling for more balanced and fairer attitudes from the international community to encourage direct dialogue between the two South Asian nations.

China is very concerned about the development of the India-Pakistan situation, and will spare no effort to promote reconciliation, so that the tension between India and Pakistan can be eased, Tang said.

The international community should adopt a more balanced and fairer attitude to encourage direct dialogue between the two nations, Tang said, describing dialogue as the "most effective" measure for guiding the situation in South Asia onto the track leading to peace and stability.

Powell said he had talked with Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf over the phone, expressing concern from the United States over the India-Pakistan situation, as well as the expectation that the two sides would take measures to ease the present tension.

(Xinhua News Agency May 28, 2002)