Indicating that it had played a constructive role during the recent Indo-Pak tensions, China has said that it was willing to have a dialogue with India to find a solution to issue of listing of JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN Security Council.

“We believe that China-India relations are mature enough to see the differences are properly managed, and maintain sound and stable growth,” Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui wrote in an article published in the new edition of the Chinese Embassy magazine, ”China-India Review”.

The magazine was launched at a function at the Chinese mission which was attended by top diplomats from several countries, including the ambassadors of South Korea and Bhutan, Chinese scholars, intellectuals and media personnel.

“On the issue of listing in 1267 Committee of the UN Security Council, China attaches importance to and understands India’s concerns and is willing to strengthen communication with India to find a proper solution,” Luo said.

His comments assume significance against the backdrop of the fact that China had recently put a hold on the listing of the JeM chief as a global terrorist by the UNSC for the fourth time to save its “all weather” ally Pakistan from facing global embarrassment. This issue has become a major irritant in Sino-India relations, particularly after the Pulwama terror attack, which was orchestrated by the JeM.

On India-China trade ties, the Chinese envoy said the two sides should give positive consideration to signing a free trade agreement and an investment protection agreement to address trade deficit from an institutional perspective and realise at an early date the goal of $100 billion bilateral trade between the leaders of the two countries.

Luo said the two countries should also cooperate on major projects such as the Delhi-Agra high-speed railway and industrial parks and also promote connectivity cooperation under the framework of Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) grouping.

“The development of China-India relations is like rowing against the current. The two sides should follow the mega trend and maintain momentum, fully implement the consensus reached between the two leaders (Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping) in 2018,” he wrote.