Foreign Ministry Spokesperson announces:

Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will chair the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Xiamen, Fujian Province from May 28 to 29. Foreign ministers or representatives from 11 island countries having diplomatic relations with China, namely President and Foreign Minister Taneti Maamau of Kiribati, Premier and Foreign Minister Dalton Tagelagi of Niue, Crown Prince and Minister for Foreign Affairs Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala of Tonga, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Rouwen Aingimea of Nauru, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Lorin S. Robert of Federated States of Micronesia, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Peter Shanel Agovaka of Solomon Islands, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade Marc Ati of Vanuatu, Minister for Foreign Affairs Justin Tkatchenko of Papua New Guinea, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Tingika Elikana of the Cook Islands, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Lenora Qereqeretabua of Fiji, and representative of the government of Samoa and Ambassador of Samoa to China Luamanuvae A. Mariner, and Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Esala Nayasi will attend the meeting upon invitation.

China has called on India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, resolve differences through dialogue and consultation and jointly uphold regional peace and stability, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday, following reports that Indian and Pakistani troops engaged in another cross-border exchange of fire on Monday night.

Following the terrorist attack in Kashmir last week, Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged cross-border fire again on Monday night. AFP reported, citing an Indian army statement, small arms fire occurred across the Line of Control during the night of Sunday and Monday.

Commenting on the latest development, Guo stated at a press conference that India and Pakistan are both important countries in South Asia, and that their peaceful coexistence is crucial for regional peace, stability and development. 

"As a common neighbor to both nations, China urges the two sides to exercise restraint, resolve differences through dialogue and consultation and jointly maintain regional peace and stability," Guo said.

The terrorist attack in India-administered Kashmir last week, which killed at least 26 tourists, has escalated tensions between India and Pakistan. 

After the attack, New Delhi downgraded diplomatic ties, revoked visas for Pakistani nationals, suspended a water-sharing treaty and announced the closure of its main land border crossing with Pakistan, AFP reported.

In response, Islamabad ordered the expulsion of Indian diplomats and military advisers, cancelled visas for Indian nationals and barred its airspace to Indian airplanes.

The UN has urged the two sides to show "maximum restraint" so that issues can be "resolved peacefully through meaningful mutual engagement," according to AFP.