National Securitu Advisor Ajit Doval will meet his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi in Beijing tomorrow for crucial boundary talks.
Ahead of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's visit to China, Beijing has stuck to its stand on blocking India's bid to get Jaish e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar banned by the UN, saying it was in accordance with "facts and relevant resolutions".
China also said it was in "sound communication" with all relevant parties including the Indian side over the issue, a day before the crucial boundary talks between Mr Doval and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi tomorrow.
As both External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar raised the Azhar issue strongly yesterday in their talks with their counterparts asking China to review its stand, reiterated Beijing's decision, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, "As for the listing matter China has already expressed its position. We support the UN central coordinating role in the world campaign against terrorism and China has taken active part in the world cooperation against terrorism."
"We oppose double standards in counter terrorism campaign. We have been dealing with the listing matter in accordance with the facts and relevant resolutions. We are also in sound communication with all relevant parties including the Indian side," she added.
China's assertion came in the backdrop of Ms Swaraj's remarks at the Russia-India-China (RIC) foreign ministers meet in Moscow where she warned the international community of "serious consequences" if it continues to adopt "double standards" in dealing with terrorism.
China's "hidden veto" in blocking India's bid to get JeM chief Azhar banned by the UN has cast a shadow on the Sino-India boundary talks beginning in Beijing tomorrow.
While Ms Swaraj raised the Azhar issue with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Moscow on the sidelines of the RIC meet, Mr Parrikar, who held talks with top defence officials here yesterday, said he took up the issue with them.
"What happened in UN is not in the right direction and they have to take a common line on terrorism which is in the interests of India and China," he said.
Asked to elaborate on what "facts" China needed on the issue of Azhar, whose outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) was banned by the UN in 2001, Hua said she needs to check on it.
However, she said the Chinese mission in UN is in touch with relevant parties including India.
She added that "China is firmly opposed to double standards on the counter terrorism issue".
"China is also victim of terrorism. We believe that only by working as one we can fight against terrorism and maintain peace and stability of the whole world. There is no doubt about that," she said.