<p class="title">China on Tuesday refrained from making any direct comment on Pakistan's latest move on exercising administrative authority on Gilgit-Baltistan but said the CPEC, which traverses through the disputed region, will not affect its stand that the Kashmir issue should be resolved between India and Pakistan.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pakistan's Cabinet on May 21 approved Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 which was also endorsed by the region's assembly. The order is being seen as Pakistan's efforts towards incorporating the disputed region as its fifth province.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The move sparked anger in the region and drew a strong reaction from New Delhi which said the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, which also includes the so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan' areas, is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing that "Kashmir issue is a historical baggage between India and Pakistan and therefore shall be resolved between the two sides through dialogue and consultation".</p>.<p class="bodytext">Asked to comment on the Pakistan government's Gilgit-Baltistan Order, Hua reiterated Beijing’s stand that the USD 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which goes through Gilgit and Baltistan, will not affect its stand that the Kashmir issue should be resolved between India and Pakistan.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We have stressed many times that the CPEC is an initiative for economic cooperation. This is a cooperation framework which serves the purpose of economic development and the people's livelihood. This initiative does not affect our position on the Kashmir issue," she said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pakistan has bifurcated occupied Kashmir into two administrative parts - Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Gilgit-Baltistan was treated as a separate geographical entity by Pakistan till now.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It is believed that China's concerns about the unsettled status of Gilgit-Baltistan prompted Pakistan to change the region's status.</p>
<p class="title">China on Tuesday refrained from making any direct comment on Pakistan's latest move on exercising administrative authority on Gilgit-Baltistan but said the CPEC, which traverses through the disputed region, will not affect its stand that the Kashmir issue should be resolved between India and Pakistan.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pakistan's Cabinet on May 21 approved Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 which was also endorsed by the region's assembly. The order is being seen as Pakistan's efforts towards incorporating the disputed region as its fifth province.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The move sparked anger in the region and drew a strong reaction from New Delhi which said the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, which also includes the so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan' areas, is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing that "Kashmir issue is a historical baggage between India and Pakistan and therefore shall be resolved between the two sides through dialogue and consultation".</p>.<p class="bodytext">Asked to comment on the Pakistan government's Gilgit-Baltistan Order, Hua reiterated Beijing’s stand that the USD 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which goes through Gilgit and Baltistan, will not affect its stand that the Kashmir issue should be resolved between India and Pakistan.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We have stressed many times that the CPEC is an initiative for economic cooperation. This is a cooperation framework which serves the purpose of economic development and the people's livelihood. This initiative does not affect our position on the Kashmir issue," she said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pakistan has bifurcated occupied Kashmir into two administrative parts - Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Gilgit-Baltistan was treated as a separate geographical entity by Pakistan till now.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It is believed that China's concerns about the unsettled status of Gilgit-Baltistan prompted Pakistan to change the region's status.</p>