'Illegal, Illegitimate And Unacceptable': India Slams China, Pakistan On Invite To Third Countries In CPEC projects

The statement by the ministry comes amid reports that Pakistan and China have agreed upon welcoming "interested" third countries to join the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi

Source : ANI

The ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Tuesday slammed China and Pakistan for inviting third countries to join the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects by calling it "illegitimate". It also said that any such activity by any party directly infringed on India's sovereignty and territorial integrity, reported news agency ANI.

"We have seen reports on encouraging a proposed participation of third countries in so-called CPEC projects. Any such actions by any party directly infringe on India's sovereignty and territorial integrity," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi was quoted as saying by ANI.

"India firmly and consistently opposes projects in the so-called CPEC, which are in Indian territory that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan. Such activities are inherently illegal, illegitimate and unacceptable, and will be treated accordingly by India," Bagchi added.

The statement by the ministry comes amid reports that Pakistan and China have reached upon an agreement to welcome "interested" third countries to join the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor worth billions of dollars.

The meeting of the 3rd CPEC Joint Working Group (JWG) on International Cooperation and Coordination (JWG-ICC) was held last week through video conferencing.

Pakistan foreign secretary Sohail Mahmood and China’s assistant foreign minister Wu Jianghao chaired the July 23 meeting.

“As an open and inclusive platform, both sides welcomed interested third parties to benefit from avenues for mutually beneficial cooperation opened up by CPEC,” the Pakistan foreign office said in a statement, as reported by PTI.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is being used by bejing to gain control of the Gwadar port and the Gilgit-Baltistan region. Since 2010, there have been an increasing Chinese presence here, ANI cited media reports.