— Premier Li says Chinese side shocked, outraged by the recent attack
— Shehbaz assures Chinese counterpart to provide ‘enhanced security’ for Chinese nationals
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Chinese counterpart, Li Keqiang, shared the view that the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China must continue to serve the vital interests of the two nations as well as the broader interests of peace and stability amidst the evolving regional and global milieu.
To this end, the two leaders agreed to enhance the momentum of exchanges to take bilateral cooperation to even higher levels.
Sharif and Keqiang held a comprehensive telephonic conversation on Monday which was marked by traditional warmth and cordiality, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a press release.
The two prime ministers also discussed in detail bilateral matters, while agreeing that Pakistan and China would not allow anyone to harm the time-tested all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
According to the statement issued by the Chinese Embassy, Premier Li said China and Pakistan are friendly neighbours and iron-clad friends, noting that President Xi Jinping paid a successful visit to Pakistan in 2015, which advanced the level of bilateral strategic cooperation.
“China always regards its ties with Pakistan as a priority in its diplomacy with neighbouring countries, and will, as always, firmly support Pakistan in defending national sovereignty and security, and will support the country in developing its economy, improving people’s livelihood and maintaining financial stability,” Premier Li said.
“China stands ready to work with Pakistan to strengthen strategic communication, promote cooperation on such major projects as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and strengthen bilateral personnel exchanges on the condition of effective epidemic prevention and control,” he added.
Premier Li pointed out that the Chinese side is shocked and outraged by the recent attack on Chinese nationals in Karachi, and strongly condemns this terrorist attack.
Premier Li hoped that Pakistan will bring the perpetrators to justice as soon as possible, make every effort to handle follow-up matters, comfort the bereaved families and the injured, and comprehensively strengthen security measures for Chinese institutions and citizens in Pakistan to ensure that similar tragedies will not happen again.
For his part, Sharif once again expressed deep condolences over the death of Chinese nationals in the Karachi terrorist attack and sincere sympathy to the injured.
“Pakistan strongly condemns terrorism, cherishes the lives and safety of Chinese nationals in the country, and regards Chinese victims and those wounded as its own compatriots without distinction, Sharif stressed, adding that the country will do its utmost to find out the truth, arrest and punish the perpetrators in accordance with the law,” says the statement said.
“The Pakistani side will strengthen security measures for all Chinese institutions and nationals in Pakistan to prevent similar incidents from happening again,” he said.
Sharif said the friendship between Pakistan and China has been deeply rooted and bilateral cooperation has reached an unprecedented level.
“Pakistan is ready to work with China to speed up the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, deepen cooperation on key projects and special economic zones and increase personnel exchanges to bring more benefits to the two peoples,” he added.
Foreign Office statement quoted Sharif thanking China for its firm support of Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national development and reaffirmed his government’s unwavering support to China on all issues of its core interest.
He also affirmed his government’s firm resolve to fast-track both the ongoing as well as the new projects under the transformational China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which had immensely contributed to the socio-economic development of Pakistan and also realise its high-quality development.
The prime minister underscored the need for both sides to work together and enhance cooperation between the concerned agencies of the two countries to fully operationalize the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) at an early date.
While recalling Pakistan-China sister-city partnerships, he expressed his desire to learn from the experience of those Chinese officials who had remained instrumental in setting up SEZs in their provinces.
The prime minister also expressed his commitment to working with renewed zeal and enthusiasm, in concert with China, especially on projects of strategic significance for both the countries, such as the multibillion-dollar Karachi-Peshawar Railway Line, or Mainline-1 (ML-1), project.
The prime minister offered his condolences to the government and people of China and expressed sympathies with the families of victims of the heinous terrorist attack that took place at the Karachi University on April 26 in which three Chinese scholars lost their lives.
While strongly condemning the terrorist attack, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm resolve to hold a thorough investigation, apprehend the perpetrators of this criminal act and bring them to justice in accordance with our laws.
Sharif reiterated that Pakistan attached the highest importance to the safety, security and protection of all Chinese nationals working in Pakistan on economic projects and institutions.
He assured Keqiang that his government was determined to take all necessary measures for their enhanced security and safety in Pakistan.
While emphasising people-to-people contacts, Sharif also conveyed sentiments of the families of the students who were desirous of returning to China for resumption of their studies.
Keqiang assured the prime minister of China’s readiness to enhance economic cooperation, expand trade and encourage greater investments from China to Pakistan.
Premier Li Keqiang talked over phone with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on bilateral ties.
In the phone call on May 16,
