China wants more pragmatic, effective cooperation with SAARC

BEIJING: China today said it would like to establish "more pragmatic and effective cooperation" with SAARC to play a constructive role in promoting regional peace, as it pushed for a dialogue partner status in the grouping.

Recently Vice Foreign Minister, Zhang Zhijun attended the eight-nation SAARC meeting at Maldives, Chinese Foreign Ministry, spokesman, Liu Weimin told a media briefing here today answering a question on reports of China's interest in becoming a dialogue partner of SAARC. China values its relations with SAARC.

Elaborating on China's stand in this regard he said would like to establish a more pragmatic and effective cooperation mechanism with SAARC so as to play a constructive role in promoting regional peace, stability and prosperity, he said.

"Since China became an observer of SAARC in 2006, we are quite satisfied with level of relations between China and SAARC. Cooperation between two sides has been developing smoothly and we always respect SAARC's will and treat it on basis of equality and mutual benefit," he said.

China was admitted as observer in SAARC along Australia, European Union, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Mauritius, Myanmar and United States.

The joint declaration issued at the end of the SAARC summit this month in Maldives said that the issue of dialogue partnership would be reviewed before the SAARC Ministers meeting next year.

SAARC member states included, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan.