Beijing: China on Tuesday (September 17) said that the Kashmir issue might not be a major topic of discussion during the planned second informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping.

A senior Chinese official said it should be left to Modi and Xi on the issues they would like to discuss.

Speaking to media, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying said, "As for Kashmir being on the agenda, I'm not sure because this is a kind of informal summit …For this kind of informal summit, I think it is better to leave the leaders much time to discuss whatever they would like to discuss."

Hua said Kashmir might not be a major topic of discussion between the two leaders.

"I think for those things like Kashmir, I don't think it would be a major topic occupying the talks. That is my understanding. But for the leaders, they would be free to talk about whatever they like," Hua said, responding to a question.

China, the all-weather ally of Pakistan, already tried to take the Kashmir issue to the UN Security Council (UNSC) last month. But a closed-door meeting of the UNSC, in a snub to both Beijing and Islamabad, ended without any outcome or statement.

The tension between India and Pakistan escalated after New Delhi revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status on August 5. Reacting to India's move on Kashmir, Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with New Delhi and expelled the Indian High Commissioner.