China welcomes ceasefire between India and Pakistan：FM

（ECNS）-- The ceasefire between India and Pakistan is in the fundamental and long-term interest of both countries, and is conducive to regional peace and stability. This is also what the international community hopes to see, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on Monday.

India and Pakistan agreed on an immediate ceasefire on May 10. "China supports and welcomes this latest development," Lin said.

He noted that India and Pakistan are and will always be each other's neighbors, and they hey're both China's neighbors. Since tensions started to rise between India and Pakistan, China has been in close communication with relevant parties and urged the two countries to exercise calm and restraint and avoid escalation.

"On the night of May 10, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and India's National Security Adviser Shri Ajit Doval respectively to counsel de-escalation and realization of a full and lasting ceasefire. Both Pakistan and India responded positively," Lin said.

China hopes that India and Pakistan will cement and continue the ceasefire momentum, avoid further conflict, properly handle differences through dialogue and negotiation, and return to the track of political settlement, Lin added.

China is ready to stay in communication with India and Pakistan and play a constructive role in realizing a full and lasting ceasefire between the two countries and keeping the region peaceful and stable, he concluded.

(By Zhao Li)