April 2, 2003	Wednesday	Muharram 29, 1424

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NEW DELHI, April 1: British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on Tuesday urged his Chinese counterpart, Li Zhaoxing, to help mend relations between India and Pakistan, the Press Trust of India (PTI) quoted a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman as saying in Beijing. During a telephone conversation, the two sides discussed the situation in South Asia, including the relations between India and Pakistan,” spokesman Liu Jianchao said. Mr Liu was quoted by the PTI as saying that Mr Straw talked about “the role of Pakistan in controlling cross-border violence and he also called upon the Chinese side to play a greater role in easing the tension between India and Pakistan.”

In response, Mr Li said both sides were friendly neighbours of China.

“He called upon the two sides to cease the dilemma of no dialogue. We expressed our concern about the situation and said the tension has got long historical reasons and that dialogue is the only way to solve the problem,” the spokesman quoted Mr Li as saying.