Thursday, February 17 2005 15:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Beijing: China today (Feb 17, 2005) welcomed the agreement between India and Pakistan to launch the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service from April 7 and hoped that both sides would resolve their differences left over from history through friendly consultations.

"I have taken note of relevant report. We welcome the efforts made by India and Pakistan to open a new route through diplomatic channels," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan told reporters in Beijing when asked to comment on the agreement between India and Pakistan on the bus service.

"We always hope that India and Pakistan could resolve the disputes left over from history through friendly consultations," the spokesman said.