BEIJING: Pakistan and China Saturday underlined the importance of ‘all-weather strategic partnership’ between the two neighbouring countries and reiterated to support each other issues of core interest.
The statement comes after Prime Minister Imran Khan held wide-ranging talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang.
PM Khan was accompanied by the foreign minister, minister for finance, planning minister, information minister and other senior officials, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The interaction between the two leaders was marked by traditional sentiments of warmth, deep mutual trust and understanding.
During the meeting, they reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral ties including discussions on the bilateral economic and trade relations, onward march of CPEC and important issues of regional and global concern, read the communiqué.
“The two sides reaffirmed the centrality of the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and reiterated support on each other’s issues of core interest.”
Congratulating Premier Li for organising Beijing Winter Olympics, PM Imran Khan highlighted that strategic ties between Pakistan and China served the fundamental interests of the two countries and were a factor of peace and stability in the region.
He added that successful celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations held last year injected a new impetus to the bilateral friendship.
The prime minister thanked the Chinese government for support and assistance to Pakistan in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic and timely supply of vaccines.
He appreciated the transformational impact of CPEC on Pakistan’s infrastructure, energy, socio-economic development and improvement in livelihoods of the people.
He underlined that Pakistan is committed to the high-quality development of CPEC through its mutually reinforcing industrial, trade, health, digital and green corridors.
PM Imran shared with Premier Li the measures taken by the government to provide policy guidance and support for enhanced Chinese investments in the CPEC SEZs and special technology zones, and for the safety and security of Chinese nationals, projects and institutions in Pakistan.
Exchanging views on the regional security situation, the prime minister highlighted the serious situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as well as the importance of urgent action by the international community to alleviate the sufferings of the Kashmiri people.
He also underscored the importance of Pakistan and China working together to promote shared objectives of peace, stability and development in Afghanistan and regional connectivity.
The two leaders agreed to work closely on further deepening bilateral economic engagement and reaffirmed their commitment to further advance the multifaceted strategic cooperative ties and building the ‘Pakistan-China Community of Shared Future in the New Era’.
“Just a moment ago, Prime Minister Imran Khan’s meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Li has ended. It was followed by a meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat. Kashmir and Afghanistan were the main topics of discussion in both
the meetings,” Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is in China on a
four-day official to Beijing, met with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony here on Saturday and the two leaders exchanged views in detail on the entire gamut of bilateral relations.
According to a handout issued by PM Office, the two leaders reaffirmed their resolve to comprehensively upgrade Pakistan-Uzbekistan partnership across the broad spectrum and continue taking practical steps for implementation of
the key projects.
Prime Minister Imran Khan underscored the importance of enhanced trade and economic cooperation, particularly through operationalizing the landmark bilateral Transit Trade Agreement (UPTTA) and finalizing the Preferential Trade Agreement.
He also reiterated Pakistan’s full support to the Trans-Afghan railway project and exchanged views on next steps in taking it forward over the coming months.
They also exchanged views on issues of regional peace and stability. The two sides stressed the need to continue economic and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan by the international community to avoid any further
deterioration of the situation.
The two sides agreed to work closely to ensure concrete outcome of the visit.
