ISLAMABAD, Aug 5: Visiting Chinese Vice Minister Cai Wu has given the assurance that normalization of relations with India will not be at the cost of China’s time-tested friendship and close relationship with Pakistan.

He was talking separately to the delegations of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) here on Tuesday.

Talking to the PML-N delegation, the Chinese minister said his government considered Kashmir a core issue which must be settled peacefully through diplomatic level dialogue.

The party chairman, Raja Zafarul Haq, led the PML-N delegation. Other members were secretary-general Saranjam Zamindar, former NWFP chief minister Sardar Mehtab Khan, chief coordinator Ahsan Iqbal, Senator Saadia Abbasi and information secretary Siddiqul Farooque.

Raja Zafarul Haq briefed the vice minister on Pakistan’s internal situation and regional developments. Appreciating Chinese support of Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir, he said former prime minister Nawaz Sharif initiated a process of settlement of this issue, which led to the Indian prime minister’s visit to Pakistan and signing of the Lahore Declaration, but the process was scuttled due to the capture of power by the military.

He said Pakistan had always relied on dialogue for the sake of regional peace, but India’s policies were disheartening and contradictory. He said China’s participation in Saarc could be very beneficial for peace and progress of South Asia, and Pakistan-China cooperation could also go a long way on that forum.

The Chinese vice minister explained at length the foreign policy of his government that was based on the principles of non- interference, equality, peace and coexistence.

He expressed concern over the current situation in the region. He said the tension between Iran and the US was very disturbing. He said he did not want to blame anyone, but certain outside interests were reflected in the recent developments in South Asia.

He said China hoped for normalization of the situation in Afghanistan and its return to stability, so that China could play its role in the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country.

Talking to the PPP delegation, Cai Wu recalled the services of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto for strengthening friendship between the two countries.

The PPP delegation comprised Senator Farhatullah Khan Babar, PPP general secretary Raja Pervez Ashraf, former finance minister Ihsanul Haq Paracha, MNA Syed Nayyar Bokhari and B.A. Malik.