China hopes Indo-Pak talks would lead to 'substantive results'

China today expressed delight over the resumption of Indo-Pak foreign secretary-level talks, hoping it would lead to "substantive results" and enable the two countries to sustain the momentum of dialogue.
    
"We are delighted to know that foreign secretary level consultations between India and Pakistan have taken place. We hope dialogue and consultations between them can make substantive results and we also hope momentum of such dialogue and co-operation can be kept," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.
    
Pakistan had recently said it was offering a "blank cheque" to China to play a role to bring down tensions with India, prompting New Delhi to reiterate that it would never accept third party mediation.
    
Foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan met in New Delhi today after a 14-month hiatus in bilateral negotiation, which were suspended following the Mumbai terror attacks.
    
Qin said India and Pakistan were both China's neighbours and major countries in South Asia.
    
"The improvement and development of relations is not only conducive to peace and stability and to the development of South Asia, but also to the whole region of Asia," he said.

Last year India took exception to the joint statement issued at the end of talks between US President Barrack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao here stating that the two countries supported the improvement and growth of relations between India and Pakistan.