China said on Tuesday that it was not competing with India for influence through humanitarian relief supplies to Nepal, where Saturday’s giant earthquake has already claimed over 4,000 lives.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei rejected the assertion in some quarters, that emergency aid by Beijing and New Delhi was carving divisions within Nepal.
Positive coordinationOn the contrary, he stressed that China wanted “positive” coordination with India. “Since Nepal was struck by a severe earthquake, the international community including China and India have extended their helping hand to Nepal, providing all kinds of assistance and support,” said Mr. Hong, in response to a question. Since the two countries were neighbours, “We would like to work together and coordinate positively with India in our assistance efforts in Nepal.”
Former Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, Zhang Chunxiang, also asserted during an interaction with the media in Beijing that there was “no competition” between China and India in Nepal.
