ISLAMABAD: Reiterating its support to Pakistan at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) platform, China has categorically announced that it did not want the forum to be politicized as some countries are pursuing their political agenda in a bid to blacklist Pakistan.

Talking to a group of visiting Pakistani journalists in Beijing, Deputy Director General for Policy Planning of Asian Affair in the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Yao Wen said China stood with Pakistan and blocked any attempt to include Pakistan in the blacklist.

He said China made it clear to the United States and India that China cannot do this and goes beyond the purpose of the FATF.

Also Read: Pakistan to remain on FATF grey list until February

Yao Wen said the Financial Action Task Force was not meant to put any country in the blacklist, rather to support it to take action against terror financing.

He said Pakistan was effectively pursuing its National Action Plan, and China encouraged it to act against terrorists and strengthen its system.

About the recent visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to India, he said the Chinese president conveyed Pakistan’s concerns to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over current development in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

He said India was told that Pakistan did not want war with it and desired to resolve the Kashmir issue through peaceful means.

He welcomed establishing of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority by Pakistan that would help expedite work on CPEC projects.

On Oct 18, Pakistan had escaped the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklist as the global money-laundering watchdog had given it until February 2020 to meet the standards.

“Pakistan needs to do more and do it faster,” the FATF had warned after culmination of its week-long plenary session in Paris on Oct 18. Pakistan risks being placed on terror financing blacklist along Iran and North Korea.