Beijing, April 19

China today maintained that its decision to block the bid to get JeM chief Masood Azhar banned by the UN was in accordance with “facts and relevant resolutions”, a statement that came a day after two senior Indian ministers raked up the issue with their Chinese counterparts.China was in “sound communication” with all relevant parties, including the Indian side over the Azhar issue, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said ahead of the crucial boundary talks tomorrow between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi. Doval arrived in Beijing this evening.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, Hua once again reiterated that Beijing’s decision was in accordance with “facts” and “relevant” UN resolutions.“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,” Hua said.“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 said. China’s assertion came in the backdrop of 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 Azhar banned by the UN has cast a shadow on the Sino- India boundary talks beginning here tomorrow. While Swaraj raised the Azhar issue with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Moscow, Parrikar said he took up the matter with top defence officials yesterday. — PTI