China opposes G20 meeting in Kashmir, Turkey also likely to skip

China has opposed the G20 tourism meeting in Jammu and Kashmir which is scheduled to start from 22 May, news agency Reuters said on Friday. The development came as China and Turkey were expected to skip the international event in Srinagar. The G20 meeting will be the first such big event to be organized in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

China's decision is likely to be derived from the objections of Pakistan, its close ally, which claimed that the G20 meetings are aimed at perpetuating India's “illegal occupation” of Jammu and Kashmir. Turkey is also expected to skip the event and in the past has criticized India's handling of the Kashmir issue.

India dismissed the objections raised by Pakistan and said G20 events are organized in all states and union territories of India ahead of the summit in New Delhi in September.

The reports claimed that several other invitees to the G20 meeting in Srinagar are expected to keep a low level of participation and only diplomats are likely to attend the meeting instead of senior representatives of the countries.

“The main event will be held at SKICC on May 22 and 23. We are expecting more than 100 delegates of the G20 states and guest countries,” a senior officer at Sher-e-Kashmir International Conventional Centre (SKICC) said.

“We have refurbished the conference center to international standards and an eco-friendly environment has been created for the delegates. Everything is being done to make this event successful and to showcase the culture, tourism, and art of Jammu and Kashmir,” the official added.

The government has made tight security arrangements around the SKICC, which is established on the banks of beautiful Dal Lake.

“There will be officers from countries that have issued negative travel advisories. I hope they will consider lifting these advisories after the event,” commissioner secretary for tourism, Abid Rashid said while talking about the diplomatic advantages of the meeting.

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