June 3, 2002	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 21,1423

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BEIJING, June 2: China is confident that India and Pakistan can tackle their differences through dialogue, said Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen.

He was talking with Indian guests who have come to Beijing to attend a meeting of the China-India Eminent Persons’ Group.

Qian stressed that China “supports all efforts beneficial to the stability and peace of South Asia.”

Most Asian countries, including China and India, are developing nations and they need a peaceful environment to live in harmony and develop together, he said.

He hoped India and Pakistan would refrain from escalating the situation in South Asia.

According to the Chinese media reports, Indian and Pakistani leaders are ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at a conference in Kazakhstan next week. Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and President Pervez Musharraf had both “confirmed their willingness and desire” to meet Putin.—APP