'Hope India, Pak resolve differences through dialogue'

Few hours after India accepted Pakistan's proposal to hold a meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries, Chinese Consul General in Kolkata, Ma Zhanwu, on Thursday expressed hope that New Delhi and Islamabad can settle their differences through dialogue.

Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had confirmed that India accepted Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's proposal to conduct a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York at a mutually convenient date and time.

Ma told ANI, "China has good relations with both Pakistan and India. We certainly believe and hope that the two countries can settle their differences through dialogue."

This came after Khan wrote a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, proposing a meeting between Swaraj and Qureshi on the sidelines of the UNGA session.

"Building on a mutual desire for peace between our two countries, I wish to propose a meeting between Foreign Minister, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj, before the informal meeting of the SAARC Foreign Ministers at the sidelines of the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York. They can explore the way forward, especially the holding of the SAARC Council of Ministers followed by the SAARC Summit in Islamabad. The summit will offer an opportunity for you to visit Pakistan and for us to restart the stalled dialogue process. I look forward to working with you for the benefit of the people of both our countries," Khan's letter read.

The MEA, however, clarified that no agenda has been set for the proposed meeting.