Sunday, June 26 2005 16:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chandigarh: Appreciating the thaw in Indo-Pak relations, China has said that Kashmir issue should be resolved bilaterally.

"We are of the opinion that the two nations must resolve this (Kashmir) issue by themselves, but if both countries think we can contribute in any way then we will try our best," Chinese Ambassador Sun Yu Xi told reporters in Chandigarh last night (Jun 25, 2005) on the sidelines of a function.

Emphasising that peace between India and Pakistan will help to accelerate economic development in the region; the envoy said, "We welcome it. That is something we will very much like to see and promote."

On Sino-Indian relations, the ambassador said the two countries were trying to sort out outstanding issues, including the border problem.

Sun said that while it may take time to sort out the (border) issue "an atmosphere of friendship prevailed on borders now."

The ambassador said that India and China were observing year 2006 as 'Year of Friendship'.

Sun said that his country would establish a Chinese language cell in Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi this year.

China had invited 100 youths as Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's guests in a good will gesture, which had been reciprocated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the recent meeting between the two leaders, he said.

"We are also giving importance to more student exchange programmes. Both the countries are also working to promote tourism. We already had a Chinese cultural mart in Delhi recently and Indian Government would be having its cultural mart in Beijing in October this year," he said.